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Visitor numbers to Scotland fall by 12% Visitor numbers to Scotland fall by 12%
(about 4 hours later)
The number of tourists visiting Scotland fell sharply last summer, according to official figures.The number of tourists visiting Scotland fell sharply last summer, according to official figures.
The number of nights travellers spent in the country between July and September fell by more than 100,000 - or 12% - on the same period in 2011.The number of nights travellers spent in the country between July and September fell by more than 100,000 - or 12% - on the same period in 2011.
The amount they spent also dropped by about £50m, according to Office for National Statistics (ONS) data.The amount they spent also dropped by about £50m, according to Office for National Statistics (ONS) data.
In London, overnight visits during the same period fell by 5% while spend increased by 13%.In London, overnight visits during the same period fell by 5% while spend increased by 13%.
At the end of the summer, tourist body VisitScotland said it planned to spend £3m on an autumn advertising campaign after describing the holiday season as "challenging". Meanwhile, the ONS International Passenger Survey indicated a 2% year-on-year increase in visitors to Scotland over the 12 months to September, with a 12% rise in spend.
VisitScotland chairman Mike Cantlay said: "It is encouraging to see that Scottish tourism has continued to perform well over the past year, in part due to a strong start to 2012, but it has undoubtedly been a challenging summer for Scottish tourism. A different set of 12-month figures published by VisitScotland suggested a 3% fall in domestic tourism visits to Scotland when compared to the previous year, while domestic tourism expenditure fell by 2%.
"However, given the wet weather during the summer months and the economic problems being experienced around the world, these figures could have been considerably worse. At the end of the summer, the tourist body said it planned to spend £3m on an autumn advertising campaign after describing the holiday season as "challenging".
"We also witnessed the astonishing success of the Olympics, an event that attracted a number of Scotland's prospective visitors to London and kept domestic visitors at home." 'Undeniably tough'
He added: "These figures are also compared to 2011, which was a particularly strong year for Scottish tourism." VisitScotland chairman Mike Cantlay said: "Times have been undeniably tough for businesses over the summer, particularly in certain sectors like outdoor attractions and activities.
"We all know that the summer was a total washout except in the north west, with many event cancellations, and that the Olympics impacted 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."