TOURISM SPEND in Scotland plunged by more than £50 million during the late summer as the weather and Olympics took their toll on the industry.
Figures produced by the Office for National Statistics show tourism spend was £599m in the third quarter of 2012, down from £652m in the same period the year earlier.
However, the figures showed total spend in the first nine months of the year remained ahead of 2011 at £1.176 billion, a £64m uplift on the revenue figure achieved by the same juncture in 2011.
Mike Cantlay, chairman of national tourism agency VisitScotland, said that it had been a difficult summer period, but he was positive the industry would bounce back.
He said: “Times have been undeniably tough for businesses over the summer, particularly in certain sectors such as outdoor attractions and activities.
“We all know the summer was a total washout except in the north west, with many event cancellations, and that the Olympics did have an impact on domestic visits outside of London.
“This is such a shame because the first part of the year was a huge success despite the economic gloom evidenced by a 3% increase in spend in the last 12 months and a tourism industry which was geared up for making the summer a success.
“But we couldn’t be in a better position to win back growth as we prepare to welcome the world in 2014 with two of the biggest global sporting events: the Commonwealth Games and the Ryder Cup.”
The ONS figures indicated a 2% year-on-year increase in visitors from worldwide destinations to Scotland over the 12 months to September, with a 12% rise in revenues.
VisitScotland’s own analysis of the domestic tourism market found a 3% decrease in visits last year, with a 2% drop in overall spend.
Tourism Minister Fergus Ewing said it was testament to Scotland’s lure as a destination that overseas visitor numbers had increased last year despite the challenging economic backdrop.
However, he agreed the industry had faced some difficult times during the peak summer period.
He said: “Despite a strong start to the year, the weather played a part in deterring domestic visitors, and the Olympic Games kept people occupied for three weeks during the summer season.
“The rises in expenditure suggest that Scotland is thought of as a quality destination, offering quality experiences and visitors are prepared to spend their money in our hotels, tourism attractions and restaurants as a result.
“We will continue to work with VisitScotland and our enterprise agencies to build on this reputation, and we have many opportunities to do so.”
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