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Scotland sees ‘spectacular’ tourism growth

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Tourists visiting Scotland spent 20% more last year than in 2012 – a bigger rise than London and the UK as a whole.

The number of visitors was also up by 9.8% to 2.44 million, spending a total of £1.68 billion

Edinburgh was the biggest attraction, with 1.3 million people staying one night or more in the city – second only to London.

Glasgow was sixth in the UK league with 515,000 visits, Aberdeen attracted 241,000 overnight tourists and Inverness 226,000.

VisitScotland chairman Mike Cantlay hailed the “spectacular” results following a 4% rise the previous year and predicted a further increase in 2014.

He told the BBC: “With the success of Brave and the Year of Natural Scotland, the country benefited from an unprecedented level of international marketing.

“Securing new direct flight routes has also been invaluable, making it easier for visitors to reach Scotland and connect with our stunning urban and rural attractions.”

He added: “The investment in the events of 2014 such as Homecoming Scotland, the Commonwealth Games and the Ryder Cup will undoubtedly keep up this momentum throughout this year and beyond.

“This will showcase Scotland to a global audience and confirm its position as a world class venue for events, business and leisure tourism.”

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