The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Scotch whisky tourism toasts successful year
Almost two million visitors to whisky centres in Scotland
Sales at Scotch whisky visitor centres topped £60 million as they welcomed a record number of visitors last year.
The annual survey compiled by the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) shows there were 1.9m visits to distilleries from tourists from all over the world in 2017.
The highest number of visitors came from Germany and the USA, followed by those from India, China and Japan.
Karen Betts, Scotch Whisky Association chief executive, said: “These record figures are great news for the industry and great news for Scotland.
“These are exciting times. Scotch whisky distilleries have invested – and continue to invest – hugely in providing world-class visitor facilities at their sites all over Scotland, and they are collaborating in establishing new whisky trails and finding new ways of telling the story of scotch to British and foreign visitors alike.
“It’s a wonderful story: part traditional, part modern and set among Scotland’s communities and in its breathtaking landscapes.
“We will continue to work closely and collaboratively with tourist organisations, local councils and the Scottish Government to ensure that Scotland’s tourists have a memorable time visiting our country and experiencing all it has to offer.”
The increase in visits to 1.9m is an 11.4% rise year on year and represents 45% growth in popularity since 2010.
The SWA survey also details that on average more than £32 was spent during each trip to a visitor centre, up 4% year on year and by £11 per visit from 2010.
Scotland is home to 122 operating malt distilleries, 66 scotch whisky visitor centres are open to the public and a further eight are available to visit by appointment
Exports of scotch whisky were valued at £4.37 billion last year, with 39 bottles shipped overseas every second.
Malcolm Roughead, chief executive of VisitScotland, said: “We’re delighted that the popularity of Scotch whisky distilleries is continuing to grow with our visitors, which reflects the hard work and investment by the industry in delivering a world-class experience.
“Scotch whisky is a culinary and cultural icon and one of Scotland’s most valuable commodities, with visitors from across the globe coming to our shores to experience an authentic dram. It is a vital part of local tourism as not only do distilleries benefit from the draw of ‘the water of life’ but so too do the surrounding towns and villages.”