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Visit Scotland | Alba

Overview

  • Insight on tourism in Dumfries and Galloway 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. 
  • In 2023, there were a total of 490,000 overnight tourism visits to Dumfries and Galloway and a total overnight tourism spend of  £133 million.

1. Key statistics (overnight tourism)

490 thousand

total overnight trips by international and domestic visitors in 2023

1.73 million

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

£133 million

total overnight visitor spend by international and domestic visitors in 2023

£273

average overnight visitor spend per trip in 2023

Figures shown represent tourism performance for Dumfries and Galloway, 2023 (numbers have been rounded). Sources: International visitors: International Passenger Survey, 2023 GB residents: Great Britain Tourism Survey, 2023

Domestic overnight tourism

Region Domestic visits Domestic nights Domestic spend
Dumfries and Galloway 440,000 1,513,000 £98 million

Source: Great Britain Tourism Survey, 2023

International overnight tourism

Region International visits International nights International spend
Dumfries and Galloway 44,000 216,000 £35 million

Source: International Passenger Survey, 2023 

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
Dumfries and Galloway 7,000 11.6% 605 9.7% £188 million £16,685

Source: Scottish Growth Sector Statistics, December 2023

View this data as a time series on 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 overnight visitors: Dumfries and Galloway

87%

were domestic visitors

13%

were international visitors

89%

were repeat visitors

7%

were on a trip of a lifetime

Source: Scotland Visitor Survey 2023

Scotland Visitor Survey 2023 - Dumfries & Galloway 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 Dumfries and Galloway was 44.
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 Dumfries and Galloway was 39.
Browse more information on international tourism performance.

Scotland Visitor Survey

Commissioned by VisitScotland. The sample size for Dumfries and Galloway was 225.
Explore details from the Scotland Visitor Survey.

Scottish Growth Sector Statistics

Read details on the industry statistics published by the Scottish Government 

Related links