Scottish Tourism Statistics 2006
June 2007
The Scottish Tourism Forum has today welcomed the news that the volume and value of international visitors rose in 2006 and that overseas markets now contribute £1.4 billion to the Scottish economy. STF believes that focused marketing to key overseas markets and ease of direct access, through the air route development fund, have helped to achieve this success.
STF is disappointed, however, in the drop in domestic visitors and recognises that this is a very challenging, yet crucial, market for the majority of businesses in the tourism industry. In our manifesto, Profitable Growth for a Sustainable Future, published last year, the Forum called for an increase in the budget of VisitScotland for marketing and still believes that extra resources are required to address this decline in the UK market.
Peter Taylor, Chairman of The Scottish Tourism Forum, said: 'These figures underline the hugely competitive nature of tourism, as more countries than ever are realising the economic opportunities it brings. It is vital that the public and private sectors continue to work more closely together to ensure the best return from marketing and deliver an unforgettable experience to visitors here. Maximising our tourism industry is crucial to growing Scotland's economy but nobody can be complacent about the challenge to achieve our shared ambition of 50% growth.'
