Domestic overnight tourism
| 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
Overview
- Insight on tourism in Edinburgh and the Lothians 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 5.34 million overnight tourism visits to Edinburgh and the Lothians and a total overnight tourism spend of £2,321 million.
- In 2023, there was a total of 4.98 million overnight visits to Edinburgh and a total overnight tourism spend of £2,244 million (City of Edinburgh only).
In this article:
1. Key statistics (Edinburgh and the Lothians)
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.
Key statistics (City of Edinburgh)
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.
International overnight tourism
| 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
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 |
| Edinburgh | 37,000 | 12.3% | 1,995 | 11.2% | £957 million | £16,181 |
| East Lothian | 4,000 | 7.4% | 300 | 9.6% | £97 million | £14,596 |
| Midlothian | 2,250 | 4.5% | 195 | 7.7% | £53 million | £12,446 |
| West Lothian | 3,500 | 3.8% | 355 | 7.9% | £145 million | £21,047 |
Source: Scottish Growth Sector Statistics, December 2023
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.
There are separate factsheets for Edinburgh and for the Lothians (excluding Edinburgh).
Profile of 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
Profile of overnight visitors to the Lothians
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)
Scotland Visitor Survey 2023 - Lothians factsheet
Published June 2024
(updated August 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 Edinburgh and the Lothians was 284 and Edinburgh was 259.
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 Edinburgh and the Lothians was 1,623 and Edinburgh 1,593.
Browse more information on international tourism performance.
Scotland Visitor Survey
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.
Scottish Growth Sector Statistics
