Date :
26/06/2015
Foreign music enthusiasts visiting Scotland for festivals and concerts have boosted the country's economy by £280 million.
According to a report by music industry body, UK Music, visitors who travelled to Scotland last year specifically for a music event spent an average of £724 and supported over 2,000 full time jobs.
The total number of foreign visitors to Scotland in 2014 reached 720,000 which contributed to the overall increase of music tourists in the UK by over a third in less than three years. The SSE Hydro in Glasgow alone, officially opened by Rod Stewart in 2013, boosted the number of music tourists in Scotland to 520,000 last year.
Ranked the second busiest live entertainment venue in the world, SSE Hydro hosted MTV Europe Music Awards in November 2014 and welcomed global artists such as Beyonce, Miley Cyrus and the Eagles. These concerts drew thousands of music visitors from all over the country, significantly contributing to the boost in visitor numbers.
However, research from the report showed that music festivals in Scotland were the most valuable to the country’s economy in 2014, generating a total of £155 million. Popular annual festivals such as T in the Park, Wickerman and Hebcelt supported almost 1,200 jobs and concerts helped generate 885 employment positions.
Chief Executive of VisitScotland, Malcolm Roughead, commented on the increase. He said:
"These fantastic figures show the key role music tourism plays in Scotland’s visitor economy, with our range of superb venues and top acts encouraging thousands of people to come here and enjoy a concert or festival.
Mr Roughead continued:
"The ripple effect of music tourism means accommodation and transport providers, restaurants and bars are just a few of the other sectors that also benefit"
For tips on making the most of the events and festivals season whilst developing your visitor experience, check out Tourism Intelligence Scotland's Events, Festivals & Cultural Tourism Guide to unlock your business’s potential.