Scottish visitor attraction figures posted another record-breaking year, according to the latest figures from industry experts at Glasgow Caledonian University’s Moffat Centre.
The annual survey of more than 700 of the country’s paid and free attractions reveals tourism across Scotland was up by five per cent last year.
Alongside the National Museum of Scotland, the Top Ten Free Attractions include the Scottish National Gallery, West Dunbartonshire’s Loch Lomond Shores, Glasgow’s Riverside Museum, Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Edinburgh’s St Giles Cathedral, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Gretna Green’s Famous Blacksmith’s Shop, and the National War Museum and the Regimental Museum of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards (both based at Edinburgh Castle).
Professor John Lennon, Moffat Centre Director, said: “Two Scottish visitor attractions welcoming more than two million visitors for the first time is a sure sign of the enduring appeal and strength of the sector. Edinburgh and Glasgow continue to dominate the country’s tourism industry but regional performance across Scotland is also buoyant and encouraging.
“As a destination, Scotland continues to benefit from the lower value of Sterling against the Euro and the US Dollar, ensuring tourists receive value for money as well as a high-quality experience. Demand has been further buoyed by a resurgent domestic ‘stay-cation’ market as Britain faces economic uncertainty and the reduced purchasing power of Sterling.”