Scotland visitation rebounding fastest in U.K., data shows

Scotland’s international tourism continues to bounce back according to the latest quarterly International Passenger Survey figures which were released at the end of January.

The figures show there were 1,438,000 visits to Scotland from international visitors, an increase of six per cent on the same period in 2022 and a rise of more than a 14 per cent on quarter three in 2019.

International tourism in Scotland is recovering at a stronger rate than other UK nations and regions, and demand for a destination that offers a plethora of unique experiences, great outdoor adventures and sumptuous food and drink is increasing.

“These figures are further evidence of the indisputable allure of Scotland for international visitors Our overseas visitors stay longer and spend more, which in turn supports the visitor economy. They are a crucial market for our industry, particularly while domestic visitors adjust to cost-of-living challenges,” said Malcolm Roughead, chief executive at VisitScotland. “While we all continue to navigate the challenging economic landscape, our priority is to use our marketing, partnership work, and business support activities to grow appetite for Scotland from all visitors – near and far – and make Scotland a year-round, must-visit destination.” 

Getting to Scotland

Visitors have plenty of choice when travelling to Scotland and this year can look forward to a range of new routes, route extensions and returning flights.

For Canadian travellers, WestJet is making Edinburgh Airport its home in Scotland as it introduces another two routes to its operations to the Scottish capital, adding Toronto and Halifax to its existing Calgary route. This marks the first time Edinburgh has had a direct flight from Halifax.

For a full list of connections to Scotland, click here.