Skip to main content
Visit Scotland | Alba

Overview

  • Insight on tourism in Argyll & the Isles is available from a range of different sources. These include tourism monitors, national statistics, and commissioned research.
  • On this page, you will find key data for the area. There are also links to further information regarding a particular source or study. 
  • This region covers the local authority region of Argyll and Bute.
  • In 2023, there were a total of 461,000 overnight tourism visits to Argyll and the Isles and a total overnight tourism spend of  £135 million.

1. Key statistics (overnight tourism)

461 thousand

total overnight visits by International and domestic visitors in 2023

1.78 million

total nights spent in accommodations by international and domestic visitors in 2023

£135 million

total overnight spend by international visitors and domestic visitors in 2023

£292

average overnight visitor spend in 2023

Figures shown represent tourism performance for Argyll and the Isles, 2023 (numbers have been rounded). Sources: International Passenger Survey 2023, Great Britain Tourism Survey 2023

Domestic overnight tourism

Region Domestic visits Domestic nights Domestic spend
Argyll and the Isles 371,000 1,381,000 £92 million

Source: Great Britain Tourism Survey, 2023

Do you want to see this data as a graph or view past year figures?

View graphs and data on tourismobservatory.scot

International overnight tourism

Region International visits International nights International spend
Argyll and the Isles 90,000 398,000 £42 million

Source: International Passenger Survey, 2023 

Do you want to see this data as a graph or view past year figures?

View graphs and data on tourismobservatory.scot

Employment and economic performance

Local Authority Tourism employment in 2022 Tourism employment as % of all employment Tourism businesses in 2023 Tourism businesses as a% of all businesses Tourism Turnover in 2021 Total tourism GVA per head in 2021
Argyll and Bute 6,000 15.6% 590 15.2% £210 million £20,843

Source: Scottish Growth Sector Statistics, December 2023

View this data as a time series on the tourismobservatory.scot

2. Scotland Visitor Survey 2023

In 2023, we commissioned the Scotland Visitor Survey to gather insight on visitor attitudes and behaviours. The survey explores all aspects of the visitor experience in Scotland. It also allows us to explore the experiences of visitors who stayed overnight in a specific area.

The scope of the survey was leisure overnight visitors only.

Information is also available at a Scotland level on a variety of topics including motivations, planning and booking, travel, attractions, food and drink and satisfaction. Detail on the background and study methodology is also available.

Browse Scotland Visitor Survey 2023.

Profile of overnight visitors: Argyll & the Isles

55%

were domestic visitors

45%

were international visitors

69%

were repeat visitors

14%

were on a trip of a lifetime

Source: Scotland Visitor Survey 2023

Scotland Visitor Survey 2023 - Argyll & the Isles factsheet

Published June 2024

3. Methodology

The data published on this page is sourced from a number of different studies.

Great Britain Tourism Survey

Jointly sponsored by VisitEngland, VisitScotland and VisitWales. The sample size for Argyll and the Isles was 46.
Browse more information on domestic overnight tourism to Scotland.

International Passenger Survey

Carried out by the Office of National Statistics (ONS). VisitBritain, VisitScotland and VisitWales are sponsors of the survey. The sample size for Argyll and the Isles was 81.
Browse more information on international tourism performance.

Scotland Visitor Survey

Commissioned by VisitScotland. The sample size for Argyll and the Isles was 290.
Explore details from the Scotland Visitor Survey.

Scottish Growth Sector Statistics

Read details on the industry statistics published by the Scottish Government 

Related links