Business tourism is the fastest growing sector in world tourism. 2.3 million business trips were made to Scotland in 2008 and spend per night by business visitors is 80 per cent higher than that of leisure visitors. The value of business tourism in Scotland is quite clear.
The Edinburgh Conference Bureau Ltd is the lead organisation for promoting Edinburgh as a business tourism destination. They provide professional and tailored advice to help tourism businesses organise conferences in Edinburgh.
They have put together some at-a-glance facts about the importance of business tourism in Scotland – businesses can get a picture of how targeting these visitors can improve their bottom line.
Business Tourism – UK
- Business tourism in the UK continues to grow from strength and is now worth in excess of £24 billion in terms of its wider economic impact through associated delegate expenditure including travel, entertainment, shopping, pre/post conference activities
- Business tourism is the fastest growing sector in world tourism and represents 28 per cent of inbound tourism into the UK
- Business tourism expenditure from overseas contributed £4.6 billion, representing 28 per cent of global inbound spend (2008)
- The UK is one of the top ten countries for international association meetings, along with the USA, Germany and Spain
- Around 513,000 people are employed full-time in the business tourism sector, both directly and indirectly
Business Tourism – Scotland
- 2.3 million business trips were made to Scotland in 2008
- Business tourism is worth £723 million annually to Scotland and accounts for 18 per cent of total tourism spend (2009)
- Spend per night by business visitors is 80 per cent higher than that of leisure visitors
- Scotland hosts 29 per cent of all international association conferences held in the UK (up from 25 per cent in 2008/09)
Business Tourism – Edinburgh
- The economic value of business tourism to Edinburgh city region is estimated to be in excess of £300 million per annum
- Edinburgh is the most popular UK city after London for hosting international association meetings
- Edinburgh was ranked first in a ‘value for money’ survey of ten world class conference destinations commissioned by VisitBritain (2009)
- Edinburgh voted Favourite UK City for the tenth year running in Guardian/Observer Travel Awards 2009
- Edinburgh crowned 'the best small city of the future’ by fDi Magazine's European Cities & Regions 2008/09 and 2010/11
- Edinburgh is a centre of excellence for tourism, science and technology, medicine, higher education and finance
- Edinburgh Airport is Scotland’s largest airport and the sixth busiest in the UK, operating to over 100 destinations with 40 airlines.
- Tourism in Edinburgh generates £1.6 billion annually and sustains over 30,000 jobs