5.34 million
total overnight trips by international and domestic visitors in 2023
21.29 million
total nights spent in accommodations by international and domestic visitors in 2023
£2,321 million
total spend by international and domestic visitors in 2023
£435
average overnight visitor spend in 2023
Figures shown represent tourism performance for Edinburgh and the Lothians, 2023. Sources: International Passenger Survey 2023, Great Britain Tourism Survey 2023.
4.98 million
total overnight trips by international and domestic visitors in 2023
20.35 million
total nights spent in accommodations by international and domestic visitors in 2023
£2,244 million
total spend by international and domestic visitors in 2023
£450
average overnight visitor spend in 2023
Figures shown represent tourism performance for Edinburgh, 2023. Sources: International Passenger Survey 2023, Great Britain Tourism Survey 2023.
| Region | Domestic visits | Domestic nights | Domestic spend |
| Edinburgh and Lothians | 2,970,000 | 7,669,000 | £792 million |
| City of Edinburgh | 2,660,000 | 6,930,000 | £747 million |
Source: Great Britain Tourism Survey, 2023
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View graphs and data on tourismobservatory.scot| Region | International visits | International nights | International spend |
| Edinburgh and the Lothians | 2,368,000 | 13,623,000 | £1,529 million |
| City of Edinburgh | 2,324,000 | 13,421,000 | £1,497 million |
Source: International Passenger Survey, 2023
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View graphs and data on tourismobservatory.scot| Local Authority | Tourism employment in 2023 | Tourism employment as a percentage of all employment | Tourism businesses in 2024 | Tourism businesses as a percentage of all businesses | Tourism Turnover in 2022 | Total tourism GVA per head in 2022 |
| Edinburgh | 41,000 | 13.7% | 2,060 | 10.7% | £1,766 million | £27,037 |
| East Lothian | 4,000 | 7.4% | 300 | 8.9% | £243 million | £25,650 |
| Midlothian | 2,500 | 4.9% | 220 | 7.9% | £140 million | £26,393 |
| West Lothian | 4,000 | 4.4% | 355 | 6.8% | £128 million | £18,952 |
Source: Scottish Growth Sector Statistics, December 2024
Do you want to see this data as a graph, a time series, or a data file (CSV)?
View graphs and data on tourismobservatory.scotIn 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.
There are separate factsheets for Edinburgh and for the Lothians (excluding 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
Published June 2024
80%
were domestic visitors
20%
were international visitors
81%
were repeat visitors
8%
were on a trip of a lifetime
Source: Scotland Visitor Survey, 2023 (updated August 2024. Please note these figures exclude Edinburgh)
Published June 2024
(updated August 2024)
The data published on this page is sourced from a number of different studies.
Jointly sponsored by VisitEngland, VisitScotland and VisitWales. The sample size for Edinburgh and the Lothians was 284 and Edinburgh was 259.
Browse more information on domestic overnight tourism to Scotland.
Carried out by the Office of National Statistics (ONS). VisitBritain, VisitScotland and VisitWales are sponsors of the survey. The sample size for Edinburgh and the Lothians was 1,623 and Edinburgh 1,593.
Browse more information on international tourism performance.
Commissioned by VisitScotland. The sample size for Edinburgh was 1,156 and for the Lothians, excluding Edinburgh 132.
Explore details from the Scotland Visitor Survey.
