Foreign tourists pump millions into Fair City
107,000 pay a visit
Golf is one of the main drivers of tourism in Perth and Kinross Foreign tourism was worth £62 million to the Perth economy last year.
According to the figures released by the Office of National Statistics, 104,000 foreign people visited the city in 2017.
The figure is the highest since the Ryder Cup was held at nearby Gleneagles in 2014 when 107,000 people made their way to the Fair City.
Perth has also re-entered the top 50 holiday destinations in the UK after missing out in 2016.
According to the data, foreign visitors spent around 364,000 nights in Perth last year.
Of those visiting nearly 61 per cent were from Europe while 23 per cent were from North America.
Holidays were the main driver of Perth visitors, with 87,000 either on holiday or in the city as part of an inclusive tour.
A further 23,000 were visiting friends or family while 13,000 were in the Fair City on business.
Perth is the seventh most popular destination in Scotland, behind Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, Aberdeen, Fort William and Stirling. The city ranks 38th in the UK. The increase in Perth was mirrored across Tayside last year, with 252,000 visitors in Perth and Kinross, Dundee and Angus, generating £116m for the economy.
Deputy first minister and Perthshire North MSP John Swinney welcomed the figures, saying: “The Scottish Government recognises that tourism is one of our most important industries, employing 207,000 people, creating jobs, supporting the local economy and building on our strong international reputation.
“I am particularly pleased by the news that Tayside has enjoyed a 68 per cent increase in tourist spending since 2016. This is a remarkable statistic, and one that will be welcomed by people across the region.”