Press release -
Scotland voted as UK backpackers' dream value destination
Scotland has been voted as the dream value destination for UK backpackers.
Bought by Many conducted a survey of more than 200 experienced backpackers and travellers from around the UK to identify their dream destinations.
Backpacking was identified as any travel over two weeks, with 22% of respondents saying a 5-8 week trip was their ideal length of time.
If money were no object, then New Zealand is the majority destination of choice, with over 21% saying this is place they most wanted to travel to in the world. Other favourite destinations were the USA (16%), Australia (12%) and South America (13%).
For budget destinations, however, the more typical backpacker destinations such as Thailand (17%) and India (16%) were pipped to the post by Scotland, with nearly a quarter (24%) identifying Scotland as their choice of anywhere in the world on a budget.
For those that have travelled to Scotland, the most popular destination is Edinburgh, with 45% visiting the historic capital. Though Glasgow is also a popular tourist hotspot with 20% of respondents having visited.
Though it’s not just Scotland’s cities that are a draw for tourism. The stunning scenery of Skye, Aviemore, Loch Lomand and Arran all proved popular destinations and when asked why Scotland was a destination of choice, 23% of respondents described the country as “very beautiful”.
Malcolm Roughead, Chief Executive of VisitScotland, said: “Backpacking is one of many exciting ways to explore Scotland, from its vibrant and historic cities to its great outdoors. It is no surprise that our beautiful country has proved so popular with backpackers in this poll. It is, after all, not only our scenery which attracts visitors, but also the warmth of its people – a quality which is at the forefront of our Spirit of Scotland campaign.”
Sam Gilbert, CMO at Bought By Many, said: “One of Scotland’s many advantages as a destination is that you won’t need backpacker travel insurance to cover medical expenses. However, buying travel insurance for a trip to Scotland could still cover cancellation costs – for example, if heavy snowfall delayed you hiking the West Highland Way and you missed the Caledonian Sleeper.”
See the full report here.
Topics
- Tourism
Categories
- corporate communications
Regions
- Scotland
Notes to Editors
- Follow us on twitter: @visitscotnews
- VisitScotland is Scotland’s national tourism organisation. Its core purpose is to maximise the economic benefit of tourism to Scotland.
- The organisation’s core objective is to contribute to the Tourism 2020 Strategy ambition of growing tourism revenues by £1 billion by 2020.
- This will be supported by seven overarching strategies:
- Marketing: we will market Scotland and its outstanding assets to visitors from all parts of the world, including the promotion of Scotland to people living in Scotland to visit different parts of the country
- Events: we will support the national events strategy and its delivery, and sustain, develop and promote Scotland’s international profile as one of the world’s foremost events destinations
- Internationalisation and International Engagement: we will utilise all our platforms to enable Scottish-based tourism businesses to better understand international opportunities and market to a global audience and we will work within One Scotland Partnerships to optimise the potential of Scotland’s Diaspora and our strategic partners at regional, European and global levels
- Customer Experience: we will provide information and inspiration to visitors both locally and globally via their preferred medium of choice
- Quality and Sustainability: we will provide support and advice to businesses, with the goal of improving the quality and sustainability of the tourism sector in Scotland. We will provide quality assurance to visitors through our Quality Schemes
- Inclusive Tourism: we will strive to make tourism in Scotland inclusive and available to all
- Working in Partnership: we will listen to and work with the industry, partners and communities to shape our offering and support
- VisitScotland works together with tourism businesses to make tourism a success for everyone and ensure the industry continues to grow.
- The organisation employs 700 people and has offices and VisitScotland Information Centres across Scotland.
- Spending by tourists in Scotland generates around £12 billion of economic activity in the wider Scottish supply chain and contributes around £6 billion to Scottish GDP (in basic prices). This represents about 5% of total Scottish GDP.
- The Scottish Government is the Managing Authority for the European Structural Funds 2014-20 Programme. For further information visit www.gov.scot or follow @scotgovESIF
- For VisitScotland’s press releases go to http://www.visitscotland.org/media_centre.aspx, tourism statistics and frequently asked questions go to http://www.visitscotland.org/
- Where possible, a Gaelic speaker will be made available for broadcast interviews on request (Far an tèid iarraidh, agus far am bheil sin nar comas, bruidhinnidh neach le Gàidhlig aig agallamh)
- For holiday information on Scotland go to www.visitscotland.com
- For information about business events in Scotland go to www.conventionscotland.com
Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design 2016 - 2016 will shine a spotlight on Scotland’s achievements in innovation, architecture and design through a wide-ranging, variety of new and existing activity.
- The Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design begins on 1 January 2016 and ends on 31 December 2016 and will build on the momentum generated by the current 2015 Year of Food and Drink as well as previous years including Homecoming Scotland 2014, the Year of Creative and the Year of Natural.
- Through a series of exciting events and activity, the year will showcase Scotland’s position as an “innovation nation”, its outstanding built heritage, and its thriving, internationally acclaimed creative industries sector.
- The Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design is a Scottish Government initiative being led by VisitScotland, and supported by a variety of partners including Scottish Government, Creative Scotland, Architecture + Design Scotland, Scottish Tourism Alliance, Scottish Enterprise, The National Trust for Scotland, Historic Environment Scotland, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and The Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS).
- The Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design events fund is managed by EventScotland, part of VisitScotland’s Events Directorate.
- Join the conversation at #IAD2016
- Events can join the 2016 Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design Partner Programme throughout the year by visiting http://www.eventscotland.org/YIAD_partner_programme
