Staycationers boost hostel guest figures

IMPROVED new figures from a city youth hostel suggest an increase in the popularity of "staycationing".

Edinburgh Central saw a rise in visitor numbers during August, which was a record month for the "quality hostel" on Leith Walk since its opening in September 2006, with a higher proportion of guests coming from within the UK. According to the hostel's figures more than 44 per cent of its August visitors were from the UK, with 952 from within Scotland.

The hostel's manager, Markus Riebicke-Carrington, sees the figures as a reflection of the growing trend in staycations and of budget-conscious visitors turning to hostelling.

He said: "This is a positive sign for Scottish Tourism and in particular SYHA Hostelling Scotland.

"Edinburgh Central has survived difficult times in its first three years of business opening at a time which was closely followed by recession."