EXPENDITURE and visits to Scotland by both international and domestic tourists increased during the first half of 2013, according to new figures from the Office for National Statistics.
The number of people visiting Scotland between January and June topped 6.5 million – a 1.6% uplift on the same period in 2012. Spend by tourists was up 1.7% to £1.8 billion during the six months.
Mike Cantlay, chairman of VisitScotland, said the figures show that Scottish tourism is “going from strength to strength”. “We must keep up the momentum that has been achieved already in 2013, building on these strong visitor numbers, increasing expenditure and ensuring that we remain resilient in an uncertain global economic climate,” he said.
