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Visit Scotland | Alba

Overview

  • Research and insight on tourism in Edinburgh and the Lothians is available from a range of different sources, including 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. 
  • We will continue to update this page with the latest data over the next few months.

1. Scotland Visitor Survey 2023

In 2023, we commissioned the Scotland Visitor Survey to gather insight on visitor attitudes and behaviours. The scope of the survey was leisure overnight visitors only.

The survey explores all aspects of the visitor experience in Scotland. Further information on the background, methodology, and key highlights from the survey is also available.

Browse Scotland Visitor Survey 2023.

The visitor survey also allows us to explore the experiences of visitors who stayed overnight in a specific area. There are separate factsheets for Edinburgh and for the Lothians (excluding Edinburgh).

Overnight visitors to Edinburgh

36%

were domestic visitors

64%

were international visitors

52%

were repeat visitors

15%

were on a trip of a lifetime

Source: Scotland Visitor Survey 2023

Scotland Visitor Survey 2023 - Edinburgh factsheet

Published June 2024

Overnight visitors to the Lothians

63%

were domestic visitors

37%

were international visitors

76%

were repeat visitors

13%

were on a trip of a lifetime

Source: Scotland Visitor Survey, 2023

Scotland Visitor Survey 2023 - Lothians factsheet

Published June 2024

2. Key statistics 2022 (Edinburgh & the Lothians)

4.5 million

overnight trips by International visitors and GB residents in 2022

19.2 million

day trips by GB residents in 2022

17.5 million

nights spent in accommodations by International visitors and GB residents in 2022

£2.9 billion

total spend by International visitors and GB residents in 2022

Figures shown represent tourism performance for Edinburgh & the Lothians, 2022. Sources: International Passenger Survey, Great Britain Tourism Survey, Great Britain Day Visits Survey, 2022

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