Scottish Tourism Index 2022 Findings Published

The findings of the latest Scottish Tourism Index 2022 survey were published last week (Thursday 10th November) on the final day of Scotland’s Tourism Industry Conference.

Key findings from the survey, run by 56 Degree Insight in partnership with the Scottish Tourism Alliance, were:

• While nearly three quarters of Scots have been taking holidays in 2022, they are still taking fewer than pre-pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis is now really biting into consumer holiday intentions for 2023. 58% felt their holiday choices were still being impacted by the pandemic.
• In 2022, the biggest impacts have been caused by rising costs of living – three quarters of Scots said this affected their holiday choices and decisions (74%), further driven up by rising fuel costs for 60% of Scots. The result – fewer holidays, if any in 2022 for some, and for those who did holiday, less spend on the trip.
• More positively however, there is a latent desire amongst Scots to increase their holiday taking in 2023; 38% hope to take more holidays than this year, although 20% expect to take fewer, this is a potential net increase of +18%.
• Tourism tax brings a clear division of opinion amongst Scots who would oppose its introduction (48%) versus those who would support it (44%). Support was highest among Edinburgh residents (57%).
• Although 29% would be against paying anything at all, some 22% would be willing to pay up to £1 per night, 24% would pay £1-2 and 13% would pay more than £2, averaging out at just over £1 per night overall. However, this is lower than the levels currently being considered.
• And if tourist taxes were in place throughout Scotland, 46% claim they would be more likely to consider other parts of the UK instead if such taxes were not in place there: only 9% would be more likely to consider Scotland.

Read the full story here.