As one of Europe’s leading year-round nature destinations with a world famous reputation for natural heritage, Scotland has a great deal to offer. With spending on nature based activities worth nearly 40 per cent of all tourism spending, nature based tourism can generate significant benefits for the economy.
The key findings of a new report by Scottish Natural Heritage, ‘Assessing the economic impacts of nature based tourism in Scotland’ are:
- The value to Scotland’s economy (the direct economic impact) of nature based tourism is £1.4 billion per year
- 39,000 jobs (full-time equivalent) are reliant on Scotland’s nature based tourism
- Tourist spending on nature based activities, including wildlife, field sports, walking, adventure activities and landscape and scenery, is worth nearly 40 per cent of all tourism spending in Scotland
Assessing the economic impacts of nature based tourism in Scotland (PDF, 1.0MB)