Scotland’s Commonwealth targets for tourism

THE five wealthiest nations in the Commonwealth, excluding the UK, are worth an average of £218m to Scottish tourism every year, according to recent figures.

VisitScotland says it hopes to see this total rise significantly, with the major events of 2014 including the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, the Ryder Cup and Homecoming celebrations, acting as a springboard for economic growth within the sector.

With their strong ancestral links, Australia and Canada are the key focus among the Commonwealth markets, followed by India, New Zealand, and South Africa.

Last year, more than 314,000 visitors came to Scotland from these countries, representing over a tenth of all overseas trips to Scotland in 2013. Next month, thousands of visitors from across the world will descend on Glasgow for the Commonwealth Games.

Malcolm Roughead, chief executive, VisitScotland, says: ‘2014 is a unique year for Scottish tourism. With events such as the Commonwealth Games. we’ve been given a chance to show the world that our country is the perfect place to host world-class events, as well as an ideal location to visit and do business.

The Scottish government’s tourism minister, Fergus Ewing, says: ‘Our strong tourism sector currently provides employment to more than 180,000 people and brings significant economic growth to the country.’

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