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The Commonwealth Games in Glasgow should act as a “springboard” for Scotland’s tourism industry, according to VisitScotland.
About 1.5 million visitors are expected to travel to the city for the games which run from July 23 to August 3.
The five wealthiest nations in the Commonwealth, outside of the UK, [Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand and South Africa] are worth an average of £218 million to Scottish tourism every year, according to recent figures.
More than 314,000 travellers visited Scotland from these countries last year, representing over a tenth of all inbound trips.
A survey among 10,000 spectators suggested about a fifth of people attending the Commonwealth Games have never been to Glasgow before, the BBC reported.
VisitScotland wants to build on that and ensure spectators leave the city with a desire to return.
The national tourism organisation also believes the launch of new long-haul air services, such as a United Airlines route from Chicago to Edinburgh, the extension of Air Canada Rouge flights to Edinburgh, new Qatar Airways flights from Doha to Edinburgh and Emirates’ now twice-daily flight from Glasgow to Dubai, will help make it easier for visitors to get to Scotland.
Chief executive Malcolm Roughead said: “2014 is a unique year for Scottish tourism. With events such as the Commonwealth Games we’ve been given a chance to show the world that our country is the perfect place to host world-class events, as well as an ideal location to visit and do business.
“We are looking forward to welcoming even more visitors to Scotland as a result.
“This year is inspiring global confidence in Scotland but we can’t rest of our laurels; we must continue to build on this success and promote Scotland as an accessible and desirable holiday and business destination.”
Scottish tourism minister Fergus Ewing said: “We already know that Scotland is a world-class tourism destination, but in this Year of Homecoming 2014 we have a unique opportunity to showcase our country to a huge international audience.
“The Commonwealth Games and Ryder Cup will open the door to many thousands of visitors to the country, and these major events can only enhance Scotland’s reputation as a great place to visit and do business.
“Our strong tourism sector currently provides employment to over 180,000 people and brings significant economic growth to the country. It is important that we continue to build on our success in this area, and ensure a lasting legacy from the many events that we look forward to hosting in Scotland in the months ahead.”