US tourists opt to stay at home

HE has flown to parties, premieres and golf tournaments to ‘promote’ Scotland in the US.

But First Minister Alex Salmond’s charm offensive has been a dismal failure – with fewer Americans coming here on holiday.

The latest tourism figures from the Office for National Statistics show the number of American visits fell by 16.5 per cent in the first half of this year, losing the Scottish economy almost £15million.

Experts said the struggling American economy and a poor exchange

‘Figures are disappointing’

rate had made a holiday to Scotland unaffordable for most US families.

Scottish Tory deputy leader Jackson Carlaw said: ‘It would appear the First Minister should avoid posing as a poster boy for Scotland’s tourism industry. It seems the more interest and visits he pays to the States, the less desire Americans have to come and visit Scotland.’

Despite Mr Salmond’s vigorous promotion of Scotland abroad, the number of overnight visits by foreign tourists fell by 1.3 per cent in the first six months of this year.

The number of American tourist visits slumped from 168,400 in the first six months of 2012 to 140,700 this year – a fall of 16.5 per cent. As a result, spending by US tourists plummeted by 11 per cent, from £133.7million to £118.9million.

Andrew Martin, director of the Scottish Centre of Tourism, said: ‘These figures are disappointing but the overriding factor is that the economy is not doing well, while the exchange rate is low and confidence has fallen, with people feeling they are in a time of austerity.

‘A lot of effort has been put into our marketing of Scotland and the First Minister is a vigorous salesman for Scotland.

‘But marketing only works when people can afford to buy your product – and people cannot afford to come to Scotland.’

The number of overnight stays by visitors from abroad was 965,008 for the first half of 2013, with these tourists spending almost £621.6million.

The figures are based on the International Passenger Survey of people entering Scotland by air and sea.