Visit Scotland | Alba

Overview

  • Norway is one of our closest neighbours with only the North Sea separating us. So it’s no surprise that Scotland receives lots of Norwegian visitors each year.
  • In 2022, Norway was Scotland’s eighth largest international source market measured by number of visits. It was eighth by expenditure and twelfth by number of nights.
  • Norwegian visitors accounted for 3% of all overseas visits to Scotland and 2% of all overseas spend in Scotland in 2022.
  • 2022 saw a recovery with visits and spend both returning to pre-pandemic levels.
  • Our factsheet highlights the latest annual data on the volume and value of Norwegian visitors to Scotland from the International Passenger Survey (IPS).
  • Find methodology information within the official statistics and partners section.

Norway factsheet 2022

Published June 2023

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In this article:

Key statistics

107,000

total number of visits by Norwegian visitors to Scotland in 2022

518,000

total number of nights spent in Scotland by Norwegian visitors in Scotland in 2022

£75 million

total spend by Norwegian visitors to Scotland in 2022

4.9

average nights per visit by Norwegian visitors to Scotland in 2022

Source: IPS, 2022 (numbers have been rounded)

1. Executive summary 2022

In 2022, Norway was Scotland’s eighth largest international source market measured by number of visits. It was eighth by expenditure and twelfth by number of nights.

Norwegian visitors accounted for 3% of all overseas visits to Scotland and 2% of all overseas spend in Scotland in 2022.

2022 saw a return to pre-pandemic levels for both visits and spend. However, visitors from Norway spent on average £228 less during their visit compared to 2019.

This is likely due to the decrease in proportion of holidays and a rise in those visiting friends and relatives, who typically visit for longer periods and spend less.

The average spend per trip in 2022 was £701. The average spend per night was £144.

The average length of stay was 4.9 nights.

View more graphs and charts on tourismobservatory.scot.

Source: IPS, 2022

2. VisitBritain MIDAS research 2022

In 2022, our partner, VisitBritain undertook comprehensive research with international leisure travellers. They spoke to global tourists from many markets, including Norway.

Whilst the research focuses on perceptions and experiences of Britain, there are insights which are useful for the Scottish tourism industry.

Read the full VisitBritain MIDAS research

3. Official statistics and partners

The International Passenger Survey (IPS) is a continuous survey carried out by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). It covers all major air, sea and tunnel ports.

The survey provides information on the numbers and types of visits made by people travelling to and from the UK. Anonymous face to face interviews are undertaken with a sample of passengers entering and leaving the UK.

Find out more on the survey methodology on the ONS website.

Read further ONS publications.

Read how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted on the IPS data collection.

4. Additional research resources

VisitBritain’s IPS data viewer by UK nation

visitbritain.org/inbound

VisitBritain’s Norway market profile

visitbritain.org/norway

VisitBritain’s international market segments

visitbritain.org/customer

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