scotland tourist numbers

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64+ crucial scotland travel & tourism statistics (latest 2024 data).

Millions of tourists from all over the world flock to visit Scotland's best locations each year. Why not? After all, it is home to stunning landscapes and natural sceneries, as well as rich cultural and historical heritage.

From the spectacular glens of the Highlands and dramatic castles in Aberdeen, all the way to the charming people of Glasgow and the capital’s buzzing city life.

Did you know...

• International travellers to Scotland spent £3.15 billion in 2022 alone?
• Nearly 9% of employees in Scotland work in the tourism sector?

Indeed, travel and tourism are an essential part of Scotland’s lifestyle and economy.

This article is a treasure trove of statistics on the travel and tourism industry in Scotland. We will cover everything from how popular this nation is as a tourist destination to the nitty gritty of its financial earnings.

Let’s get right into it!

Sources: After each stat, I have referenced where the data was gathered and curated from. For a full list of all articles used in this roundup, please head to the bottom of the post. At the time of publication, these are the most up-to-date statistics available. Little data was gathered in 2020 due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

Travellerspoint

What percentage of Scotland's economy is tourism?

Scotland’s tourism industry contributes roughly £6 billion to the overall GDP, or around 5%.

Why is Scotland so popular for tourists?

1 in 10 visitors were influenced by a travel feature about Scotland, whereas 8% of visitors were prompted by a TV programme about Scotland.

Where do most tourists to Scotland come from?

The top 4 source markets for international tourism in Scotland are USA, France, Germany and Netherlands in that order.

Scotland tourism key stats

• In 2022, there were a total of 111.5 million visits to Scotland
• Overseas travellers in Scotland spent about £3.15 billion in 2022 alone
• 94.8 million of total domestic trips made to Scotland in 2022 were day visits, while 13.5 million included a stay of at least 1 night
• Over 7.6 million of the visits were from Scotland, while almost 6 million were from England
• 50% of visitors come to Scotland for the scenery and landscape. History & culture is also a core driver for visiting Scotland
• Most international trips to Scotland were made from the USA, France, Germany and Netherlands
• Tourist spending generated £12 billion of economic activity in Scotland
• Scotland’s tourism industry contributes roughly £6 billion to the overall GDP, or around 5%
• In 2019, 209,000 people were employed in the Scotland tourism sector
• 14,970 (8.4%) companies in Scotland are in the Scottish tourism industry
• Over 2012 to 2017, tourism employment in Scotland rose by 13%
• The most popular region in Scotland is Glasgow & Clyde Valley. It received 29.7 million day visits and 3.1 million overnight visits in 2019
• Scotland has more than 11,000 miles of coastline, 137 miles of canals, 31,460 freshwater lochs and 118 inhabited islands
• 16 million people visit Scotland’s coastal destinations annually
• In 2020, 78% of tourism companies in Scotland reported reduced revenue from 2019 due to the Coronavirus pandemic

Travel & Scotland's economy

How does tourism contribute to Scotland’s economy?

1. In 2019, the total expenditure of overnight and day trips was £11.6 billion.

[VisitScotland]

VisitScotland found that 2019 had been the best year for Scotland’s overnight tourism over the last decade. The spending for overnight trips rose by 12% from the previous year 

2. In 2022, international visitors to Scotland spent a total of £3.15 billion.

This was a dramatic 586% increase from the £0.46 billion international tourism expenditure in 2021, and has even surpassed the pre-pandemic figures of £2.54 billion in 2019.

3. Domestic day trips to Scotland in 2022 generated around £3.9 billion.

Scottish residents generated less in day trip expenditure in 2022 compared to 2019 (£5.8 billion).

4. In 2022, domestic overnight trips in Scotland generated £3.4 billion.

GB residents in 2022 spent a total of £3.4 billion in overnight trips to Scotland.

5. Tourist spending generated £12 billion of economic activity in Scotland.

Spending by tourists contributes approximately £12 billion for the overall Scottish supply chain. This industry was recognized as an important growth sector in the nation’s 2015 economic strategy.

6. Scotland’s tourism industry contributes roughly £6 billion to the overall GDP, or around 5%.

In terms of GDP, tourism in Scotland represents 5% or £6 billion of the total GDP.

7. VisitScotland, which is the official tourism organisation of Scotland, has an annual budget of over £45 million.

A huge part of Scotland’s tourism is the official tourism organisation, VisitScotland. The government budgets more than £45 million for this entity each year.

International inbound tourism statistics in Scotland

How many international tourists visit Scotland?

8. There were 3.23 million overseas visits to Scotland in 2022 alone.

International tourism expenditure reached the highest record in 2022 despite a slight decrease in number of visits compared to 2019.

9. The average international tourist stays for 9.2 nights in Scotland.

In 2022, the average length of stay for international tourists in Scotland has increased from just 7.9 nights in 2019.

Understandably, overseas tourists spent more time in Scotland per trip compared to the average 3.0 nights for domestic travellers.

10. In 2022, 1.8 million trips were made for holidaying purposes, while 307,000 had been business visits.

The majority of international tourists (58%) come to Scotland for holiday and vacation, while 9% of the visits were for business purposes .

11. Visiting friends and family is the second most common purpose for visiting Scotland, with 922,000 trips made in 2022 for that purpose.

12. the average spend for international tourists in 2022 is £972 per visit, up 32% from £734 in 2019..

Average spending per international trip to Scotland also reached an all-time high in 2022, compared to only £625 back in 2011.

13. The top 4 source markets for international tourism in Scotland are USA, France, Germany and Netherlands in that order.

Scotland is an especially popular tourist destination for tourists from the USA, France , Germany and the Netherlands, all of which make up the top 4 markets for international tourism in Scotland.

14. In 2022, there were 693,000 visits to Scotland from the USA or 21.4% of all international visits.

[VistScotland]

The largest portion of international tourists to Scotland from a country is the USA, with American visitors spending 6.588 million nights and £1.2 billion in 2022.

15. Visitors in Norway also made the top 10 source market for international tourists in Scotland, with 107,000 total visits in 2022.

In 2022, Norwegian visitors spent a total of 518 thousand nights and £75 million in tourism expenditure in Scotland.

16. Italy follows closely behind as the ninth largest source market for international tourists in Scotland, with 105,000 total visits in 2022.

Italian visitors recorded 744 thousand nights spent in Scotland in 2022 and £68 million in tourism expenditure.

Domestic Tourism statistics in Scotland

How many domestic tourists travel to Scotland?

17. In 2019, there were a total of 111.5 million visits to Scotland (both domestic and international).

18. 94.8 million of total domestic trips made to scotland in 2022 were day visits, while 13.5 million included a stay of at least 1 night..

19. UK residents made 13.5 million overnight visits to Scotland.

Out of all the total overnight visits made to Scotland in 2019, 13.5 million were made by UK residents .

20. In 2019, over 7.6 million of the visits were from Scotland, while almost 6 million were from England.

21. In 2019, domestic visitors in the 14-24 and 55-64 age groups saw a huge increase compared to the previous year.

22. 2019 saw a drastic rise in domestic travellers as the number of trips increased by 33% from 2018..

2019 was the best year over the last decade for overnight trips by domestic visitors in Scotland.

23. In 2022, the main reason to travel to Scotland for domestic visitors is holidaying (35.5% of all visits).

35% of domestic visits to Scotland are made for holiday purposes, which included solo travel as well as family trips . Meanwhile, business visits make up 9.6% of all domestic visits in 2022.

24. 62% of domestic travellers spend between 1-3 nights in Scotland. Only 7% spend more than 7 nights per trip.

For most domestic travellers in Scotland, 1 to 3 nights is the ideal length of stay, whereas only 7% of them stay for 8 nights or more at a time.

25. In 2022, the average amount spent per visit to Scotland was £253, or roughly £83 per night.

Motivations for visiting scotland.

What are the main reasons people visit Scotland?

26. The key motivation for visiting Scotland for 50% of visitors is the scenery and landscape.

A 2015/2016 visitor survey conducted by VisitScotland across 19 regions in Scotland over two summer periods (May to September) concluded that 1 in 2 people visit Scotland for the scenery and landscape.

27. The second core driver after that for visiting Scotland is the history & culture.

Following closely to that, 1 in 3 visitors to Scotland are motivated by the rich history and culture of the nation.

28. 24% of European, long haul, and first-time visitors were persuaded to spend holiday in Scotland by word of mouth recommendation from friends, family, or colleagues.

For many European travellers , long haul and first-time visitors to Scotland, recommendation from friends and family is a determining factor for their visit. On the other hand, Scottish residents tend to be driven by the desire to spend vacation at home.

29. 1 in 10 visitors were influenced by a travel feature about Scotland, whereas 8% of visitors were prompted by a TV programme about Scotland.

30. Outlander, both the TV series and books, have had a significant impact in inspiring 17% of visitors to travel to Scotland.

31. 47.8 million day trips to scotland were made in 2019 by domestic travellers to visit friends or family..

Visiting friends and family is also a popular motivation for visiting Scotland. In 2019, residents from the UK made around 47.8 day trips to Scotland for this purpose.

Scotland coastal tourism statistics

How popular are seaside destinations in Scotland?

32. Scotland has more than 11,000 miles of coastline, 137 miles of canals, 31,460 freshwater lochs and 118 inhabited islands.

Scotland’s coasts and seaside areas are a crucial part of the local culture and history. From the picturesque beaches to spectacular waterfalls, lochs, and rivers, many tourists flock to these water-based destinations during their travels.

33. There are 16 million domestic day trips to Scotland’s coastal destinations annually.

Day trip visitors to coastal locations in Scotland tend to indulge in outdoor leisure activities and exploring the beautiful landscape.

34. In 2022, there were 0.8 million domestic overnight trips to seaside and coastal locations in Scotland, down from 2.31 million in 2019.

Only 6% of overnight trips in 2022 were to seaside or coastal locations in Scotland, while 52% were to the cities and large towns.

35. Most domestic visitors to Scotland’s coastal regions would visit the South (29%) or North of Scotland (28%).

The most popular coastal regions in Scotland among domestic travelers are the South and North. City destinations like Edinburgh and Glasgow, in the East and West of Scotland respectively, are more popular among city enthusiasts.

36. 38% of international visitors visit a beach.

37. international visitors from poland are the most likely to visit seaside destinations in scotland with 62% of propensity, while those from germany and italy have 51% likelihood to do so..

Among international tourists in Scotland, those from Poland are the most likely to visit a coastal location. They have a 62% propensity to do so, whereas German and Italian travellers are close behind with 51% likelihood each.

Tourism employment in Scotland

How many people are employed in the Scottish tourism industry?

38. In 2021, 209,000, people were employed in the Scotland tourism sector, an 8.7% drop from 2019.

Before the Coronavirus pandemic , the tourism sector in Scotland consisted of 229,000 people, which was roughly 1 in 12 jobs. It’s an especially significant industry in cities and rural regions.

39. 14,970 (8.4%) companies in Scotland are in the Scottish tourism industry.

[Scottish Enterprise]

From around 178,214 registered companies in Scotland, 8.4% are in the tourism industry,

40. In 2017, the tourism sector is most important in the region of Argyll & Bute, where 69 out of 1000 people work in the tourism industry.

41. This is closely followed by Highland and City of Edinburgh, at 68 and 64 people out of 1000 employed in the tourism sector respectively.

42. as of 2021, 33,000 people were employed in the tourism sector in edinburgh., 43. meanwhile, glasgow recorded a total of 31,000 employment in the tourism sector in 2021., 44. the travel industry is least significant in east renfrewshire, where tourism employment accounts to only 0.016% of total employment in the region., 45. over 2012 to 2017, tourism employment in scotland rose by 13%..

The tourism industry is one of the growing industries in Scotland. It saw a 13% increase in employment over a 5-year period from 2012 until 2017.

Tourist destinations in Scotland

What are the most popular tourist destinations in Scotland?

46. For domestic overnight trips, the most visited region in Scotland in 2022 was the West of Scotland, with 4.4 million trips taken there.

Meanwhile, the East of Scotland received 4.1 million domestic overnight trips in 2022.

47. Glasgow & Clyde Valley had been the most popular region to visit in 2019. It received 29.7 million day visits and 3.1 million overnight visits.

48. meanwhile, edinburgh and lothians were the most popular region for overnight visits (5.3 million). it also saw 24.8 million day visits..

Out of the 15 major regions in Scotland as listed on VisitScotland, Glasgow & Clyde Valley is the most popular tourism location overall. Meanwhile, most visitors go to Edinburgh and Lothians for overnight visits.

These two regions are followed in order by: Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, the Highlands, Ayrshire & Arran, and Kingdom of Fife.

• Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire: 1.3m overnight, 14.6 day visit
• Highland: 2.9m overnight, 9.6m day visits
• Ayrshire & Arran: 742k overnight, 10.4m day visits
• Kingdom of Fife: 705k overnight, 8.6m day visits

49. Free tourist attractions tend to be more popular, with the National Museum exceeding 2.21 million visitors in 2019.

Free tourist attractions receive slightly more visits than paid attractions. The National Museum is the most popular attraction in all of Scotland, as it welcomed over 2.21 million visitors in 2019 alone.

50. The next most visited free attractions in Scotland are the Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum, the Scottish National Gallery, and the Riverside Museum in this order.

Museums are no doubt the favorite choice for free attraction amongst visitors. Some famous non-museum destinations in Scotland include St Giles’ Cathedral and Gretna Green Famous Blacksmiths Shop.

51. In 2019, the most visited paid attraction was Edinburgh Castle, which saw around 2.17 million visits.

For paid attractions, the most popular tourist destination would be Edinburgh Castle. It received 2.17 million visits in 2019.

52. The Edinburgh bus tours received 615,000 visitors in 2019.

Travel accommodation in scotland statistics.

How many hotel rooms are there in Scotland?

53. The average Scottish hotel occupancy in 2022 was 61.02%.

During peak season in 2022, the average hotel room in Scotland cost £144.38 per night .

54. As of August 2023, the hotel room occupancy rate in Scotland is 79.40%.

This was a slight decrease from the 84.22% occupancy in August 2022.

55. In 2022, the average peak revenue per available room (RevPAR) for Scottish hotels was £268.20 in February.

56. meanwhile, revpar in august 2023 was recorded at £231.12, a year-on-year increase from £212.01 in august 2022., 57. guesthouses or b&bs in scotland in 2022 had an average occupancy rate of 54.6%, while self-catering accommodations recorded 40.49% in occupancy., 58. guesthouses or b&bs can be a cheaper accommodation alternative in scotland, with the average nightly rate being £56.44 in 2022..

59. The average touring pitch occupancy in Scotland was 60.57% in August 2023.

A touring pitch is space on a campsite that you can rent. The RV industry is a popular one in Scotland.

Impact of Coronavirus on Scotland’s tourism industry

How did the Covid-19 pandemic affect Scottish travel & tourism?

60. In the first quarter of 2020, international visitor trips decreased by 17% while international visitor spend dropped by 3% (compared to first quarter of 2019).

From the most recent update we could find on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on Scottish tourism, the report stated that overseas trips had decreased by 17% in Q1 of 2020. Note that lockdown in Scotland was enforced only by the end of Q1, yet the consequences are still apparent.

61. In summer and autumn of 2020, accommodation providers reported only 64% peak occupancy compared to 89% in 2019.

61. 78% of tourism companies reported reduced revenue from 2019., 50. 35% of staff were dismissed in 2020, while 69% had been put on furlough., 62. over march and september 2020, there was an 8.4% decrease of jobs in scotland’s accommodation and food services. .

[Scottish Parliament]

Scotland’s food, hotel and accommodation services industry was the worst impacted amongst the four nations in the UK.

63. Between February 2020 (when Covid-19 began to directly impact the economy) and December 2020, Scottish GDP has fallen by 7.2%.

64. in this time period, the sector most impacted is accommodation and food services which recorded 60% loss in gdp., 65. the arts, culture and recreation sector also experienced an approximately 42% decrease in gdp..

Not all the sectors in the Scottish economy were impacted in the same proportion. Industries directly related to tourism such as accommodation & food services, other services, and arts, culture & recreation suffered the most.

The tourism industry makes up 5% of Scotland’s total GDP. And since being identified as a growth sector back in 2015, this nation has received only more and more visitors each year.

Therefore, it is no surprise that this industry has created many job opportunities, especially in the rural areas that depend on tourists for their main source of income.

Despite the pressure and negative consequences of the recent Coronavirus pandemic, it’s reasonable to think that the Scottish tourism sector will recover and continue to grow.

We hope this post has been useful in telling you everything you might want to know about Scotland travel & tourism statistics.

Did we miss anything important? Please leave a comment below!

You might want to check out these other interesting statistics too:

• Ireland Travel & Tourism Statistics
• Airbnb Statistics
• Female Travel Statistics
• Online Travel Booking Statistics
• VisitScotland 1
• VisitScotland 2
• VisitScotland 3
• VisitScotland 4
• VisitScotland 5
• Scottish Enterprise
• Scottish Parliament

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Rise in international visits

Overseas travel and tourism statistics published for Q3 2023.

Overseas visitors are coming to Scotland in greater numbers than before the pandemic.

Figures published today by the Office for National Statistics show that Scotland has staged a stronger post-pandemic recovery than the UK as a whole, welcoming 1.4 million international tourist visits from July to September last year - up 14% on the same period in 2019.

Visitors spent a record £1.5 billion – 18% more than during the same three months in 2019 when adjusted for inflation.

At the same time, the number of visits in the UK as a whole was down compared to the same period in 2019.

Tourism Minister Richard Lochhead said:

“These encouraging statistics reinforce the resilience, creativity, commitment and innovation of Scotland’s tourism and hospitality sector - especially in response to what has been an incredibly challenging time. 

“Scotland’s unique culture, history and landscapes, plus global events such as the Scottish Open Golf Championship, the UCI World Cycling Championships and Edinburgh’s world-renowned festivals, draw visitors from across the world.

“Tourist numbers and spending in Scotland has recovered faster than the UK as a whole – and overseas visitors are returning here in greater numbers following the pandemic.

“We recognise that the sector faces challenges such as rising costs and skills shortages due to Brexit, and we will continue to support and work with the tourism and hospitality sector to grow its economic value while delivering the very best for visitors, businesses, and communities.”

Overseas travel and tourism, provisional - Office for National Statistics (ons.gov.uk)

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Scotland’s Tourism Bounces Back, Surpassing Pre-Pandemic Levels!

May 17, 2024

EDINBURGH, Scotland — In a remarkable turnaround, Scotland’s tourism industry has not only recovered from the devastating impact of the Covid-19 pandemic but has also surpassed pre-pandemic levels , setting a new record for international visitors in 2023.

According to a passenger survey conducted by the Office for National Statistics, Scotland welcomed an impressive 3.9 million overseas tourists last year, a staggering 15% increase compared to 2019 . This figure surpasses the previous record of 3.7 million international visits set in 2018.

Edinburgh remains the most visited city outside of London , attracting 2.3 million visitors and surpassing Manchester with 1.7 million visits and Birmingham with 934,000 visits.

The surge in visitors has also translated into a significant boost for the Scottish economy, with inbound visitors spending £3.5 billion in 2023 , up 13% from the previous year and a remarkable 41% from 2019.

It seems that not only are more tourists flocking to Scotland, but they are also more willing to part with their hard-earned cash while enjoying the country’s stunning landscapes, rich history, and warm hospitality.

Malcolm Roughead, chief executive of VisitScotland, hailed these figures as a “turning point for tourism in Scotland.” He emphasized that Scotland is the only region in the United Kingdom to have reached this milestone, a testament to the strength of Scotland’s tourism offering and the global appeal of its attractions.

“Our international visitors are hugely important to Scotland’s tourism industry, as well as the wider economy,” Roughead said. “They often stay longer and spend more, generating several billions of pounds annually, supporting a wide range of businesses, jobs, and communities across the country.”

The majority of international visitors to Scotland in 2023 came from Europe, accounting for 58% of all inbound visits, followed by North America at 24%.

The “other countries” category, which includes Australia and China, saw the most significant increase compared to 2022, with a whopping 53% growth in visitor numbers.

While Scotland’s tourism industry is undoubtedly celebrating this remarkable achievement, other parts of the United Kingdom are also experiencing growth in visitor numbers compared to 2022, albeit not yet reaching the heights of their pre-pandemic levels.

Looking ahead, early feedback from tourism businesses, travel trade, and airline partners suggests that the international demand for Scottish tourism is set to continue into 2024 .

Visitors are increasingly interested in exploring lesser-known locations in Scotland and visiting at different times of the year , a trend that could help alleviate the pressure on popular tourist hotspots during peak seasons.

VisitScotland remains focused on sustainably growing the value of Scotland’s visitor economy, encouraging regional and seasonal spread to ensure that Scotland remains a competitive year-round destination.

With its combination of breathtaking natural beauty , the fascinating history , and warm, welcoming people, it seems that Scotland’s tourism industry is well-positioned to continue its impressive growth in the years to come.

Sources: – Travel trends , Office for National Statistics – IPS stats May , VisitScotland

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Scotland's National Tourism Statistics

Information to help you use the national tourism statistics

What are the national statistics?

The national statistics are data that is gathered, analysed and presented to enable policy development at a national level, and made available to tourism stakeholders to enable decision making and planning.

In Scotland, there are 4 sources of national tourism statistics:

• The Great Britain Tourism Survey (GBTS)
• The Great Britain Day Visits Survey (GBDVS)

The International Passenger Survey (IPS)

• The Scottish Accommodation Occupancy Survey (SAOS)

The Great Britain Tourism Survey (GBTS) and The Great Britain Day Visits Survey (GBDVS) 

Managed collaboratively by VisitEngland, VisitScotland and VisitWales, these are Great Britain-wide consumer-focussed surveys. Information is gathered from a representative sample of British residents, and the results are then analysed and reported for both Great Britain and each of the nations.

The GBTS collects data on overnight trips (including holidays, business, or visiting friends and relatives). It measures the volume and value of overnight domestic trips taken by residents and provides detailed information about the trip and the visitor characteristics.

The GBDVS collects information on “day visits” as defined by the survey. 

Important note - Changes to GBTS and GBDVS methodologies

Since January 2011, all results are based on residents of Great Britain only. Information on trips in Northern Ireland is collected separately, and you can find it through the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency.

In 2019, alongside our partner organisations, Visit England and Visit Wales, we reviewed the GBTS and GBDVS survey scope and methods. This provided an opportunity to strengthen the consistency between the two surveys, review the questionnaires, and transition the GBTS method from offline to online. (Prior to 2020, the survey interviews for the GBTS were carried out face-to-face.)

Since 2020, the GBTS and GBDVS have been combined into a single questionnaire collected through a fully online representative panel. The annual sample size is 60,000 split by the representative population size of the GB nations.

Each respondent is asked about any overnight trips they have taken in the 4 full weeks prior to their date of interview and about any day visits that they have taken in the full week prior to their date of interview.

The International Passenger Survey is a continuous survey carried out by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Data is collected at all major air, sea and tunnel ports, through anonymous face-to-face interviews.

The survey is conducted with a random sample of passengers as they enter or leave the UK. It provides detailed information on how often people travel to and from the UK, and also what type of visit they’ve made. 

The data is published by ONS on a monthly, quarterly and annual basis. VisitBritain provides analyses of the data for the UK and also the nations including Scotland. 

Scottish Accommodation Occupancy Survey (SAOS)

Data on occupancy in Scotland’s tourism accommodation sectors is gathered and analysed through the Scottish Accommodation Occupancy Survey. This is commissioned by VisitScotland and carried out by the Moffat Centre.  It looks at a number of sectors, including: Hotels, Guest Houses and Bed and Breakfasts, Self catering, Hostels, Camping and Caravanning.

Businesses opt-in to provide their occupancy details through an online portal. This allows them to benchmark themselves against others in the industry and see how they are performing.

The richness of the data and analyses provided by the SAOS is dependent on the number of businesses participating, so accommodation businesses are strongly encouraged to opt-in and submit their data.

Full details are available from the visitscotland.org website (external link)

Accessing the national statistics

As well as the data and analyses included on the Observatory website, you can find the national statistics on the following websites

VisitScotland.org Research and Insights - analyses and insights (link to external website)

Statistics.gov.scot - datasets to view and download (link to external website)

VisitBritain.org - IPS data and analyses (link to external website)

VisitBritain.org - About the IPS (link to external website)

Office for National Statistics - IPS datasets to view and download (link to external website)

Please also see information on the impact of COVID-19 on data and statistics

Scottish Government

Statistics .gov.scot, [this is a data cube dataset] a data cube dataset in folder s : business, enterprise and energy , visitscotland, regional domestic tourism.

Domestic tourism statistics by region and year. All figures come from the Great Britain Tourism Survey (GBTS) and represent 3-year annual averages due to small sample sizes on regional level.

View as a spreadsheet

About the dataset.

• Business, Enterprise and Energy
• VisitScotland

Next update due

Description.

Note : Due to ongoing Covid-19 related travel restrictions meaning data collection has had to be suspended and a planned update to the survey methodology during 2020, a temporary gap in the reporting of the domestic tourism monitors has resulted. This disruption means the National Tourist Boards will be unable to publish detailed results from the GB Tourism Study (GBTS) and Day Visitor Study (GBDVS) for 2020 or Q1 2021 and any data from this period will only be published after a thorough review to ensure they meet necessary quality standards. We shall resume fieldwork as soon as domestic travel guidelines ease and anticipate being in a position to commence the delivery of Q2 2021 summary data at some stage during Q3 2021 (barring any unforeseen circumstances).

The Great Britain Tourism Survey (GBTS) provides visitor figures for residents of Scotland, England and Wales. The survey is conducted through face-to-face interviews and is jointly commissioned by VisitScotland, VisitEngland and VisitWales. Welsh data is not presented here, due to small sample sizes. More information about the survey can be found on the VisitScotland web page .

Confidentiality Policy

This data contains no sensitive, personal information.

Quality Management

The information contained in this report has been published in good faith on the basis of information supplied to VisitEngland, VisitScotland and Visit Wales. VisitEngland, VisitScotland and Visit Wales cannot guarantee the accuracy of information in this report and accept no responsibility for any error or misrepresentation. All liability for loss, disappointment, negligence or other damage caused by reliance on the information contained in this report or for any other reason is hereby excluded.

This is a National Statistics Publication. National Statistics status means that the official statistics meet the highest standards of trustworthiness, quality and public value. They comply with the Code of Practice for statistics and are awarded National Statistics status following an assessment by the UK Statistics Authority’s regulatory arm. The Authority considers whether the statistics meet the highest standards of Code compliance, including the value they add to public decisions and debate.

Find out more about the Code of Practice.

Find out more about National Statistics.

Accuracy and Reliability

While results from these surveys can give good precision at a national level, at regional level the results can be less reliable. This is because data at regional level can be based on a relatively small sample size. This incurs a larger margin of statistical error reducing data reliability. Therefore results should be treated with caution. To reduce error margins, 3-year average figures have been calculated to provide a larger sample size. It is good practice to use the data in conjunction with other indicators, for example visitor numbers at attractions and accommodation occupancy levels, to provide a better understanding of tourism in Scotland’s regions.

Coherence and Comparability

Note that visitor numbers for regions may add up to more than the national total as the same person may spend nights in more than one location during their visit. For example a visitor to the Highlands may also spend a night in Edinburgh. Numbers of visits therefore cannot be summed across regions.

For expenditure, nights and visits, there is a value that cannot be attributed to any specific council area but which is included in the national total. Thus, the values given for Scotland could differ from the sum of Council Areas.

Due to a change in methodology between 2015 and 2016, pre-2015 and post-2015 data is not directly comparable. For more information please contact [email protected].

Accessibility and Clarity

More domestic visitor figures can be found on the VisitScotland web page .

GBTS is a survey covering overnight trips taken for any purpose, including holidays, business, or visiting friends and relatives. It measures the volume and value of overnight domestic tourism trips taken by Great Britain residents and provides detailed information about trip and visitor characteristics.

Interviewing is carried out face-to-face every week of the year. Annually, some 100,000 respondents are contacted, and any who have returned from an overnight trip within the past four weeks are asked to describe the details of that trip.

For more information, visit the VisitBritain web page .

Timeliness and Punctuality

This data is updated annually.

This data is not routinely revised. Any revisions in exceptional circumstances will be carried out in accordance with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics .

This is a linked data resource : it has a permanent unique uri at which both humans and machines can find it on the Internet, and which can be used an identifier in queries on our SPARQL endpoint .

Dimensions Linked Data

A linked data-orientated view of dimensions and values

Linked Data Resources

A breakdown by type of the 2,686 resources in this dataset's data graph.

All metadata

Machine-readable formats.

Travel, Tourism & Hospitality

Industry-specific and extensively researched technical data (partially from exclusive partnerships). A paid subscription is required for full access.

Gross value added of tourism sector in Scotland 2012-2032

Gross value added (gva) of tourism sector in scotland in selected years from 2012 to 2021, with a forecast until 2032 (in million gbp).

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November 2022

United Kingdom (Scotland)

2012 to 2021

GVA in constant 2019 prices

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Statistics on " Travel and tourism in Europe "

• International tourist arrivals worldwide 2019-2022, by subregion
• Travel and tourism's total contribution to GDP in Europe 2019-2034
• Distribution of travel and tourism expenditure in Europe 2019-2023, by type
• Distribution of travel and tourism expenditure in Europe 2019-2023, by tourist type
• Travel and tourism: share of GDP in the EU-27 and the UK 2019-2022, by country
• Travel and tourism's total contribution to employment in Europe 2019-2034
• Leading European countries in the Travel & Tourism Development Index 2023
• International tourist arrivals in Europe 2006-2023
• International tourist arrivals in Europe 2010-2022, by region
• Monthly number of inbound tourist arrivals in Europe 2019-2024
• Change in monthly tourist arrivals in Europe 2020-2023, by region
• Inbound tourism visitor growth in Europe 2020-2025, by region
• International tourist arrival growth in European countries 2019-2023
• International tourism spending in Europe 2019-2034
• Number of domestic tourist trips in EU-27 countries and the UK 2018-2021
• Number of domestic arrivals in tourist accommodation in the EU 2011-2022
• Domestic tourism spending in Europe 2019-2034
• Domestic tourism spending in EU-27 countries and the UK 2019-2022
• Share of Europeans planning to take a domestic summer trip 2024, by country
• Outbound tourism visitor growth worldwide 2020-2025, by region
• Outbound visitor growth in Europe 2020-2025, by region
• Number of outbound trips from EU-27 countries and the UK 2018-2021
• European countries with the highest outbound tourism expenditure 2019-2022
• Travel intentions of Europeans in the next six months 2024, by destination
• Share of Europeans planning to travel domestically or in Europe 2023-2024
• Europeans planning domestic or European trips in the next six months 2024, by age
• Europeans planning leisure domestic or European trips 2024, by trip type
• European travelers' favorite destinations for their next European trip 2024
• Number of tourist accommodation establishments in the EU 2012-2022
• Number of overnight stays in tourist accommodation establishments in the EU 2011-2022
• Hotel market revenue in Europe 2017-2028
• Hotel market revenue in Europe 2017-2028, by region
• Share of hotel market sales in Europe 2017-2028, by channel
• Estimated EV/EBITDA ratio in the online travel market 2024, by segment
• Market capitalization of leading travel and leisure companies in Europe 2024
• Travel and tourism revenue in Europe 2018-2028, by segment
• Number of users of package holidays in Europe 2019-2028
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• Number of users of vacation rentals in Europe 2019-2028
• Revenue of travel and tourism market in selected countries worldwide 2023

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Inbound tourism

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• Premium Statistic Inbound tourism visitor growth in Europe 2020-2025, by region
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• Basic Statistic International tourism spending in Europe 2019-2034

Domestic tourism

• Premium Statistic Number of domestic tourist trips in EU-27 countries and the UK 2018-2021
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• Basic Statistic Domestic tourism spending in EU-27 countries and the UK 2019-2022
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Outbound tourism

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• Premium Statistic Number of outbound trips from EU-27 countries and the UK 2018-2021
• Premium Statistic European countries with the highest outbound tourism expenditure 2019-2022

European travelers

• Premium Statistic Travel intentions of Europeans in the next six months 2024, by destination
• Premium Statistic Share of Europeans planning to travel domestically or in Europe 2023-2024
• Premium Statistic Europeans planning domestic or European trips in the next six months 2024, by age
• Premium Statistic Europeans planning leisure domestic or European trips 2024, by trip type
• Premium Statistic European travelers' favorite destinations for their next European trip 2024

Accommodation

• Basic Statistic Number of tourist accommodation establishments in the EU 2012-2022
• Basic Statistic Number of overnight stays in tourist accommodation establishments in the EU 2011-2022
• Premium Statistic Hotel market revenue in Europe 2017-2028
• Premium Statistic Hotel market revenue in Europe 2017-2028, by region
• Premium Statistic Share of hotel market sales in Europe 2017-2028, by channel

Travel companies

• Basic Statistic Market cap of leading online travel companies worldwide 2023
• Premium Statistic Estimated EV/EBITDA ratio in the online travel market 2024, by segment
• Premium Statistic Market capitalization of leading travel and leisure companies in Europe 2024
• Premium Statistic Leading airlines in Europe based on passenger numbers 2022
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Welcome to Scotland

Scotland is a place of epic natural landscapes, engaging cities and rich cultural heritage. Start your adventure and discover our hidden gems to create memories with friends and family. But don't just take our word for it. National Geographic has just included Scotland in their Best of the World 2024 list, and Far North Scotland has been named as one of Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel destinations for 2024! 

Whatever you need right now, let's make it a reality. We can’t wait to share Scotland with you. 

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This Historic European Capital Was Just Named the Best City in the World for Expat Families to Live

Take the leap and move abroad.

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An estimated 9 million Americans live abroad , finding new places to call home all over the world. If you're thinking of becoming one of them, Italki, a language-learning app, has a few locations for you to consider. 

The company released its list of the best cities for expat families, specifically considering which cities around the world offer best-in-class safety and education, along with things to do, cost of living, and maternity leave policies. After looking at all this information, the team named Edinburgh , the capital of Scotland , the top city in the world for expat families. 

The team wrote in its findings about the city: "It boasts 32.8 things to do per 10,000 people, translating to an impressive 1,833 activities overall to keep everyone entertained. From exploring historic castles to strolling through charming gardens, Edinburgh promises endless opportunities for family bonding." 

Additionally, Italki wrote that Edinburgh also offers "more paid maternity leave than any other location, at a generous 39 weeks. Plus, with a high quality of life index score (187.7), you can be sure your family will be thriving in this vibrant city." 

Joining Edinburgh as a top destination for expat families to consider is Amsterdam in the Netherlands, which came in second.

"The city ranks highly when it comes to safety in particular, with a safety index score of 71.6. Not only will you feel secure, but Amsterdam also offers an even better quality of life score than Edinburgh (198.4)," the findings stated. "Education is another big win for Amsterdam, ranking third in the world. This makes it a particularly attractive location for families with school-aged children, setting them up to receive a world-class education." 

Rounding out the top 10 spots are Seville, Spain, in third; Helsinki, Finland; Copenhagen; Munich; Madrid; Vienna; Manchester, United Kingdom; and Oslo. 

Beyond offering a list of top spots, Italki also offered a few suggestions for how to make the transition abroad feel a little more seamless, including involving kids in the planning process, connecting with other expats before you move over social media, learning the history of your new home, and, of course, learning the language.

See more of their advice and more on the rankings at italki.com . 

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The Festival Where Scotland’s Violent History Comes Back to Life

Every year in the rolling hills of the Scottish Borders, one of Europe’s largest equestrian events commemorates a lawless time that shaped the region’s identity

Yannic Rack

Freelance writer

It’s 10 a.m. on a Friday in June, and “the Hut” in Hawick, Scotland, is heaving. Some 500 men are packed into the low wooden structure, banging tables, straining under bottles of beer and glasses of rum and milk. In comes the cornet flanked by his right- and left-hand men, all three in ties, top hats, green frocks, breeches and boots. Soon the whole company breaks out in roaring song, toasting their town and the men who have come before them to defend it against English soldiers and other armed intruders.

Hawick lies deep in the rolling hills of the Scottish Borders, one of Scotland’s 32 council areas, and this is the emotional climax of its common riding, one of Europe’s largest equestrian festivals that, once a year, brings to life a lawless time that strongly shaped the region’s shared identity. From the early 14th century, Scotland and England were almost continuously at war for 250 years, and the Borders, sandwiched in between, bore the brunt of the fighting. To make matters worse, this was also the heyday of the Border Reivers , whole clans of cattle-stealing marauders who plundered and pillaged on both sides of the frontier.

“You could never be very sure if someone wasn’t going to appear with a band of armed men, either in pursuit of land or simply to rob your livestock,” says Michael Brown , a historian at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland.

During this violent and uncertain period, a longstanding custom took on even greater importance: the riding of the marches. Lacking formal borders, communities would regularly mark the boundaries of their common land, where locals could collectively graze their livestock and cut peat. Technically, this is what Hawick’s common riding now commemorates, alongside the capture of an English flag by Hawick’s youth in 1514. More than that, though, the festival is an exultant celebration of Hawick’s community, igniting feelings of intense pride and camaraderie.

Close to a dozen other Scottish Border towns have similar common riding celebrations, stretching from May into August. Hawick’s is one of the oldest and probably the most lavishly celebrated. (Ask anyone in town, and they will also tell you it’s the best.) The whole affair ends in a weeklong crescendo of parades and gala dinners, wreath-layings and church services, horse chases and races. For five weeks leading up to this, a few hundred riders join twice-weekly excursions across the surrounding hills to visit villages and symbolically mark the old borders of their commons by turning over a small patch of sod .

In fact, Hawick’s riding properly kicks off even earlier, on the common riding’s election night in early May. This year, a few hundred local residents stood outside an unassuming house on the outskirts of town, awaiting a traditional drum-and-fife band led by a white-gloved halberdier who handed a letter to Ryan Nichol, a 32-year-old roofer, to anoint him cornet and make him Hawick royalty.

The cornet, as standard-bearer and symbolic leader of the common riding, looms large in Hawick lore, carrying an emotional weight that is hard to overstate. A plaque in the town center lists every cornet dating back to 1703. (Since then, the common riding has only been interrupted by the two world wars, an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in 2001 and the Covid-19 pandemic.) Nichol has dreamed of one day carrying the banner since he was a child, just like many of the boys now crowded around his parents’ house, eager to catch the coins the cornet tosses to them when he finally emerges.

“For the rest of his life, he becomes a local hero. Wherever he goes, he’ll be ex-cornet,” explains Catherine Elliott-Walker, a former doctor who moved here from Glasgow in the 1980s and never left. Today she’s part of the committee organizing the common riding, which costs the town close to £100,000 (about $126,000) each year.

From the house, the new cornet leads the procession as it winds back through town, past an imposing statue of a rider triumphantly waving the flag captured in 1514. When we reach the town hall, Nichol and his right- and left-hand men—his immediate two predecessors, who nominate the cornet and are by his side for most of the festivities—line up on the steps and strike up a song, with the whole crowd joining in. Struggling to make out the lyrics in local dialect, I ask Elliott-Walker what it’s about.

“This one is about Hawick,” she says, pausing for a moment. “They’re all about Hawick.”

Hawick, it turns out, has had a whole lot of songs written about it. Ian Landles, a retired Hawick history teacher and passionate chronicler of its common riding, estimates there are around 100. The oldest date back further than anybody knows, but new ones are still added to the canon even now. It’s Landles’ business to know all of them: For the past 30 years, he’s taken his seat at the hut’s piano to belt out traditional tunes accompanying the singers. “The tongue-in-cheek saying is that there is only one place with more songs written about it,” he tells me. “And that is Heaven.”

The first thing you need to know about Hawick is that it’s actually pronounced “Hoyk,” the vowels and “w” rolling off the tongue as one. The second thing, which is probably clear by now, is that the common riding comes close to a religion here, even if attendance isn’t quite what it used to be.

“It’s still the biggest event in the town,” says Frank Scott. “It’s more important than Christmas.”

Scott is another proud born-and-bred Hawick person, as well as this year’s chairman of the committee that organizes the festival. He remembers his parents taking him and his brothers to see the horses when they were little, and being let out of school early by the visiting cornet on the eve of the common riding.

It’s been years since Scott last joined the ride-outs himself, but there’s no shortage of eager participants. Around 170, some not yet teenagers, are part of this year’s crop of followers. As they set off for the hut on Friday morning amid a cheering crowd, the air fills with the smell of horses, their manes shorn or finely braided for the occasion. The old town is decked out in blue-and-yellow bunting, the shop windows competing for the best common riding display (quite literally—there’s an award).

Scott assures me that anyone can take part in the processions, as long as they’re dressed appropriately and can ride a horse. Though be warned: Among border towns, Hawick particularly prides itself on the quality of its horsemanship, and the town is known for its excellent jockeys (including Nichol, the cornet, who rode professionally for a decade). And while the festival is open to anyone, its strong community focus and arcane vocabulary are hardly geared toward visitors, aside from a few dozen so-called exiles who usually return home for the occasion. “I wouldn’t say we’re an event for tourists. But if anybody wants to come and join in, they’ll be made welcome,” Scott says.

It’s a whole other story when it comes to the cornet. He has to be from Hawick, stay unmarried for his entire three-year term (including his turns as right- and left-hand man) and have followed the festival as a rider for several years. He is also expected to be a spotless example for the town, putting in countless hours of official ceremonies, speeches and photo ops. “I’m sure the lads have no idea,” Scott says of the work involved. Still, it’s many boys’ lifelong dream, and so they usually rise to the occasion. “There’s a saying in Hawick: There’s never been such a thing as a bad cornet.”

Like many in town, Nichol has a direct family connection to the riding: His uncle Ian carried the banner in 1984, and his cousin Ross followed in 2012. Among the other ex-cornets present for this year’s affair is Bruce Mactaggart, a lively 90-year-old who held the position in 1954 and has barely missed a common riding since. Mactaggart, who worked in Hawick’s knitwear industry (the town sign proclaims it the “Home of Cashmere”), was himself preceded as cornet by his dad, in 1930, and his great-uncle, in 1892. He doesn’t remember what it felt like to be Hawick’s chosen son at the time, but that’s kind of beside the point: “It’s always with you,” he tells me, proudly showing off the 70-year-old cornet’s rosette pinned to his lapel.

Back in the hut, things quickly turn from jovial to emotional during a toast by Paul Robson, the owner of a local funeral parlor who gave Nichol his first job and has known him since he was a child. By the time Robson starts talking about Nichol’s relationship with his family and his exceptional character (words like “hero” and “loyalty” feature prominently), tears are streaming down the cornet’s face. In his own address, his voice shaking, Nichol says he’s never felt so proud in his life.

More speeches and songs follow. By now, a lot of the men have consumed a lot of alcohol, and the atmosphere has reached a fever pitch. Before the riders retrieve their jackets and helmets from the rafters to head out and mount their horses once more, there’s another foot-stomping chorus: “The borderland, my first love and my last!”

The Borders have played host to some of the most lauded chapters of Scotland’s history. William Wallace, who waged a guerrilla war against English invaders during the Scottish Wars of Independence in the late 13th century, launched his forays across the border from Ettrick Forest, not far from Hawick. Walter Scott, the famed Romantic novelist, also had roots in the region and later popularized ballads that further cemented the Borders’ status as a cradle of Scottish lore.

Hawick, the largest town in today’s Scottish Borders council area with just over 10,000 inhabitants, is barely more than an hour’s drive southeast from Edinburgh. Yet, in the late Middle Ages, it was a world away from the capital. Even during periods when there wasn’t large-scale fighting, “war was an ever-present fact of life on both sides of the frontier,” says Brown, the historian. “It turned [this region] into a kind of militarized zone.”

The Border Reivers thrived in this atmosphere, rustling cattle and other livestock across the Borders’ steep river valleys and rough open moors, and frequently fencing their goods farther south in England. But it wasn’t a clear-cut case of English versus Scots: Many of the raiders were themselves part of prominent Border families and even associated with nobility. They sparked mixed feelings among Borderers and were both heralded and vilified for their violent exploits. In the early 1500s, the archbishop of Glasgow issued a curse against them so vivid and comprehensive it ran to more than 1,000 words.

Occasionally, actual war would still rear its head. During the Battle of Flodden in 1513, the English defeated an invading Scots army, killing their king and thousands of soldiers. “Flodden was a disaster for the whole borderland,” says Landles. “Very few Hawick men marched away.”

The following year, rumors of an English raiding party camped close to town reached Hawick. A large group of boys set out in pursuit and, so the legend goes, returned triumphantly with the soldiers’ flag, as the statue in town depicts. Whether they actually fought and killed the intruders, or merely stole their standard, is lost to history. Nevertheless, the banner was adopted as the town’s own, and, carried by the cornet, became the common riding’s central emblem—particularly once the actual tradition of marking the town’s boundaries fell out of necessity in the late 18th century.

The common riding’s dual purpose is now aptly summed up by the chorus to “Teribus ye teri odin,” a hymn to the town and its history that serves as Hawick’s semi-official anthem:

“Teribus ye teri odin Sons of heroes slain at Flodden Imitating Border bowmen Aye defend your rights and common.”

The first line is where locals get their nickname (a person from Hawick is a Teri, pronounced “teary”), even if nobody knows what it actually means. It might be an Anglo-Saxon battle cry invoking the Norse gods Thor and Odin, or a corrupted Celtic phrase meaning “land of victory, land of defense.” The Scottish National Dictionary even suggests it may simply consist of meaningless syllables representing the sound of a drum-and-bagpipe march, although that theory has few fans in Hawick.

Though united in reverence for their shared history, the border towns all pay homage in their own ways. During their common riding, the people of Selkirk re-enact when a single rider returned from Flodden to announce that the town’s remaining fighters had all been slain. In Langholm, a salted herring and a barley cake are ceremoniously nailed to a wooden board and paraded around town. Hawick’s own unique traditions include the Snuffin’, in which the riding’s official song singer carries a horn filled with snuff tobacco across a square pursued by a gaggle of locals, who try to wrestle it from him in what resembles a rugby scrum.

And then there’s “the Hut,” technically St. Leonard’s Hut, another tradition unique to Hawick. The actual hut was purpose-built for the common riding 100 years ago and now plays host to the pinnacle of its male bonding rituals. It loomed large for Nichol long before he had a shot at becoming cornet himself. “Even as a kid, it’s the hut you imagine yourself in,” he tells me after the ceremony, still slightly overwhelmed.

The common ridings have come under fire in the past because many of the events are exclusively reserved for men. Women still only ride in the more casual processions on the final day of Hawick’s celebrations, although the town has generally relaxed its gender segregation (and I do spot a handful of women at one of the hut’s tables).

Landles, whose personal favorite event is the Thursday Morning Chase, when the flag is brought out for the first time, admits the whole concept of the common riding can be hard to grasp if not experienced firsthand. “We have a phrase in Hawick: It’s better felt than telt,” he says. “You really need to be there and to see it.”

The common riding exerts a strong pull even on those Teries who have left long ago. Douglas Scott, Frank’s younger brother, moved away some 40 years ago and now lives in Vancouver, Canada, where he’s an astrophysicist at the University of British Columbia. Still, he comes back almost every year.

“When I was younger, I kind of fell out of interest with the common riding because it just seemed to be about drinking,” he tells me, standing on St. Leonard’s Racecourse, idyllically situated on a moor that forms part of Hawick’s remaining common land just south of town. This is where, after the celebrations in the hut, a good chunk of town gathers for a fair featuring horse races and more general revelry. Half a dozen bookies have set up shop beside the track. In the distance, we can just make out the hills straddling the border with England.

In his 20s, Scott realized the common riding was really just a way to express his love for the community and its traditions. He became so interested in local history that he’s spent much of his spare time since then painstakingly putting together A Hawick Word Book , a more than 4,000-page dictionary and encyclopedia of Hawick.

The word book includes about three dozen entries related to the cornet alone, from the Cornet’s Band (which only plays during the common riding) to the Cornet’s Lass (usually the girlfriend, with a whole host of duties of her own) and the Cornet’s Up (a traditional toast that concludes common riding dinners with the words “Hawick forever”).

But Scott, at least, is from Hawick. He shares an anecdote that illustrates how perfectly unconnected people can be snagged in the riding’s orbit, too: One year, a lawyer from Colorado came to town looking to trace his Scottish family roots. He didn’t find any relations in Hawick but, as a keen horseman, became enamored with the festival.

“He’s now been to something like 20 common ridings. He has no connection to Hawick!” Scott tells me, slightly incredulous. “It’s just an example of how it pulls people in. There’s something actually special here.”

After the races are run, and more beer has been drunk, the cornet and his followers once again retrieve the flag to gallop out of the racecourse and over the hill, past a cheering crowd and back to town, where there will be more singing and a dinner and dance and, tomorrow morning, more rituals and re-enactments to conclude the common riding. Then it won’t be long before the other towns put on their own festivities. By then, thoughts in Hawick will have already turned toward next year.

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Yannic Rack | READ MORE

Yannic Rack is a journalist based in Scotland, from where he writes about nature, science and climate change. His work has appeared in Wired , Fast Company , Earth Island Journal and more.

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Hungary forward Barnabás Varga in stable condition after serious-looking injury against Scotland

Players hold a blanket as medical personnel treat Hungary’s Barnabas Varga during a Group A match between Scotland and Hungary at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Stuttgart, Germany, Sunday, June 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Scotland’s goalkeeper Angus Gunn, up, and Hungary’s Barnabas Varga, center, collide during a Group A match between Scotland and Hungary at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Stuttgart, Germany, Sunday, June 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Hungary’s Barnabas Varga is carted off the pitch after an injury during a Group A match between Scotland and Hungary at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Stuttgart, Germany, Sunday, June 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

Hungary’s Barnabas Varga is injured during a Group A match between Scotland and Hungary at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Stuttgart, Germany, Sunday, June 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Hungary’s Barnabas Varga leaves the pitch on a stretcher after he was injured during a Group A match between Scotland and Hungary at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Stuttgart, Germany, Sunday, June 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Scotland’s goalkeeper Angus Gunn, up, collides with Hungary’s Barnabas Varga, right, during a Group A match between Scotland and Hungary at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Stuttgart, Germany, Sunday, June 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

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STUTTGART, Germany (AP) — Hungary forward Barnabás Varga was in hospital in stable condition after a serious-looking injury at his team’s final group match at the European Championship on Sunday.

Varga will likely undergo surgery after fracturing several bones in his face. The 29-year-old also has concussion and will take no part in the rest of Euro 2024 should Hungary advance to the round of 16 as one of the four best third-place teams.

The Group A game against Scotland was halted for nearly 10 minutes so Varga could get treatment after colliding with opposing goalkeeper Angus Gunn midway through the second half.

Varga’s teammates held up blankets to shield the player as he was tended to by medical staff, while everyone looked on in concern.

Both sets of fans applauded when Varga was stretchered off.

“Several bones in Barnabás Varga’s face were broken during the collision during the match, and he also suffered a concussion,” the Hungarian soccer federation wrote on X, formerly Twitter, after the match.

“The Ferencváros striker is most likely to undergo surgery. He spends the night in the hospital in Stuttgart. The whole team is rooting for him!”

Hungary snatched a 1-0 win , with a dramatic stoppage-time goal from substitute Kevin Csoboth.

“It was terrible. Was a terrible moment to see Barnabás like that,” Hungary midfielder Roland Sallai said.

“Of course, we were fighting for him in the remaining 15-20 minutes, and we would have liked to win for him and we were very happy we could achieve that. And yes, this we dedicate to him.”

As Varga was getting treatment, no one in the stadium and watching on television had any real idea of what was happening and the extent of his injury — just that he was being treated by medics, who had been frantically called onto the field by his teammates.

The scenes in Stuttgart had echoes of an even more serious incident at the last European Championship, when Denmark midfielder Christian Eriksen collapsed on the field at Parken Stadium in Copenhagen after suffering a cardiac arrest while playing in his team’s opener against Finland.

AP Euro 2024: https://apnews.com/hub/euro-2024

Fourth of July travel is expected to be busy, exceeding 2023 numbers. What to know

Pack your patience and leave ahead of time as traveling for the long Fourth of July weekend is expected to be busy, exceeding 2023 travel numbers, spokespeople with AAA and the Louisville Regional Airport Authority said.

AAA predicts millions of people will travel by car, plane or other transportation methods in the nation's East South Central Region, which includes Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama and Mississippi, according to a news release.

"Americans are embracing the opportunity to travel over the Independence Day holiday in record-breaking numbers,” Senior vice president of AAA East Central Bevi Powell said. “Whether by car, plane, or train, we are seeing more people planning extended trips over the holiday to celebrate with family and friends.”  

According to the AAA Independence Day Forecast, 3.2 million are expected to travel by car, 162,000 are expected to travel by plane and 169,000 are expected to travel by another method of transportation including bus, train and ship, within the East South Central Region. These numbers are a 4.7% increase from last year's holiday.

Louisville Regional Airport Authority spokesperson Natalie Chaudoin said more than 44,500 departing seats are filled from July 4-8 on the different airlines that travel to and from Louisville's Muhammad Ali International Airport.

Chaudoin the busiest days will be Sunday, July 7, with more than 9,600 outbound seats scheduled, and July 8, with more than 10,100 outbound seats scheduled.

The air travelers expected for 2024 is an increase from last year, but only by about 170 seats.

People traveling by car should leave in the morning, and those returning on July 8 should avoid rush hour in the morning and the afternoon. According to the release from AAA, INRIX , which provides transportation data and insights, says the worst times to drive before and on July 4 are from 2 to 7 p.m.

As for air travelers, Chaudoin said they should arrive two hours ahead of their flight to have time to park, check their bags and go through security. She also said there may be "intermittent closures of the parking lots at SDF as they are temporarily full due to the expected crowds as well."

More: Happy 4th of July! Here's where to see fireworks, celebrate in Louisville

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Travel Tips for Gulfport-Biloxi as Summer Passenger Volumes Heat Up

Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers are screening record numbers of passengers across the country. Passengers are reminded to arrive at the airport early and know what is in their bags.  TSA officers at Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport (GPT) have already intercepted six firearms at the security checkpoint so far this year. 

“Passengers are reminded to be sure they are not carrying prohibited items before they enter our checkpoints,” said TSA Federal Security Director for the State of Mississippi Kim Jackson. “Make sure your firearm is not in your carry-on bag and also check that you do not have a pocketknife or other threats that are not permitted in the cabin of the aircraft.”  

Most items that are prohibited in your carry-on bag can be placed in a checked bag.  But anything that is flammable, corrosive or explosive cannot travel anywhere on the plane. Hand grenades, even replica ones, cannot travel on the plane in checked or carry-on bags.  

 If you are going to travel with your firearm it must be in your checked bag, unloaded and in a locked hard-sided case. You must declare it to the airline at check-in.  Travelers are responsible for being aware of what the firearm laws are on each side of their trip or they may be cited or heading to jail instead of to their vacation or business trip. Firearms may not be legal to transport even in checked baggage in some jurisdictions.

The most recent firearm intercepted by TSA at the Gulfport-Biloxi checkpoint was on May 28th when a 57-year-old woman headed for Atlanta entered the checkpoint with a loaded 9 mm Smith & Wesson M&P firearm.  On May 4th, a 61-year-old man headed to Charlotte entered the checkpoint with a Ruger 03500. The firearm was loaded with a round chambered.

“Last year passengers across the state of Mississippi brought 50 firearms to our security checkpoints with seven of those at GPT. So far this year we have stopped 25 firearms across the state,” Jackson said. “The trend is unfortunately escalating, including right here in Gulfport.”

The specific calendar year-to-date totals across Mississippi are 17 stopped at Jackson, six stopped at Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport, and one each at Greenville Mid-Delta Regional Airport and Hattiesburg Laurel Regional Airport.

“Thanks to the experience and vigilance of our TSA officers, each of these firearms was intercepted before they could make it into the cabin of an aircraft,” Jackson added.

Many of the passengers across the country who bring firearms to a federal security checkpoint are arrested or issued notices to appear in court. Regardless of whether the individual is arrested or cited by law enforcement, with whom we immediately partner, passengers face a civil penalty imposed by the TSA that can reach nearly $15,000.  If the traveler is in the TSA PreCheck®  program, those privileges will be lost for a period of time, possibly permanently.

The TSA is seeing record-breaking numbers of passengers traveling across the country so be sure to arrive early  and do heed these travel tips for getting through the security checkpoint as efficiently and stress free as possible.

Tip 1: No firearms in carry-ons. Firearms must be in checked  baggage. All firearms must be properly packed and declared  to the airline at check-in, which means unloaded and in a locked, hard-sided case. Contact your airline for additional guidance. And it is your responsibility to know what the firearm laws are on both sides of your trip.

Tip 2: Leave all prohibited items at home. To reduce the likelihood of a bag search at the checkpoint, search your own suitcase, backpack, computer bag or purse before leaving home. Unsure if it’s allowed: use the “What Can I Bring?”  link on TSA.gov .

Tip 3: Prepare for the security checkpoint. Have a valid ID card  readily available. If you are traveling with a carry-on bag follow the liquids, gels and aerosols 3-1-1 rule  of 3.4 ounces or less for each item and the items should be placed in a one-quart-sized bag, one bag per passenger. To simplify your screening and even before entering the checkpoint it is best to put your phones and any other content of your pockets into your carry-on rather than into a bin in the checkpoint.

Tip 4:   Help is available.  Get live assistance by tweeting your questions to @AskTSA  in English or Spanish or via Facebook Messenger . You can also call the TSA Contact Center at 866-289-9673 .

Tip 5: Enroll now in TSA PreCheck.  Travel with ease by enrolling in TSA PreCheck and avoid removing shoes, belts, liquids, laptops and light jackets. Most new enrollees receive a known traveler number within five days, and membership lasts for five years.   

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Travel tips for a Fourth of July that's set to break records

Luke Garrett

Airports around the United States are preparing for what could be the busiest Fourth of July travel season on record. The nation's roads are no different. Traffic could reach never-before-seen volumes over the Independence Day holiday.

“With summer vacations in full swing and the flexibility of remote work, more Americans are taking extended trips around Independence Day,” Paula Twidale, senior vice president of AAA Travel, said in a press release. “We anticipate this July 4th week will be the busiest ever.”  

Nearly 71 million people are expected to make trips for the Independence Day travel period, AAA predicts.

Here's what to know about traveling for the holiday this week.

The TSA sets a new record and readies for another

Last week, a record-breaking 2.99 million passengers went through U.S. airports in a single day, according to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). The agency said it's expecting a new travel record this week.

At Philadelphia International Airport, Gerardo Spero, the TSA’s federal security director for the airport, is dealing with an 8% passenger increase this year and is cautioning travelers to give themselves extra time.

“The best advice that I can offer is to get to the airport well before your ticketed departure time,” Spero said in a news release . “Now more than ever it is vital to give yourself plenty of time to park or return a rental car, check in with your airline to check bags and prepare for the security checkpoint."

There's usually no need to panic when planes make emergency landings. Here's why

Spero also said travelers can help each other out by being "efficient" in the security lines: take off shoes and belts preemptively, empty your pockets into your carry-on, and grab a bin early.

Over at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport — where travel volumes are up 5% — the TSA wants travelers to double-check their carry-on bags before they get to the airport.

“We are asking travelers to be good partners with TSA and ensure that they are prepared for the screening process," TSA Federal Security Director for Washington Greg Hawko said in a release . "Please don’t bring prohibited items in your carry-on luggage."

The busiest airport days are expected to be July 3, 7 and 8, according to flight website Hopper . The company projects Atlanta, Dallas-Fort Worth and Denver airports to be the ones with the most travelers.

This rise in summer air travel comes amid heightened attention on aircraft maker Boeing's quality control practices after a door plug blew out on a 737 Max jet in midair at the start of the year. Still, flying is the safest way to travel .

On the road

Nearly one in five Americans are set to drive more than 50 miles this Fourth of July travel season, according to an AAA forecast .

If you want to beat the traffic, drive early. INRIX, a transportation data provider, said driving on Monday should save travelers time. Any day after that, the best time to drive is before 10 a.m.

“Drivers in large metro areas can expect the worst traffic delays on Wednesday, July 3, as they leave town, and Sunday, July 7, as they return,” Bob Pishue, transportation analyst at INRIX , said in a statement. “Road trips over the holiday week could take up to 67% longer than normal.” 

When driving on the wrong side of the road is the right way to speed up traffic

If you are preparing for a longer road trip with family and friends, AAA recommends running through this checklist: check kids' car seats, bring an emergency pack (first aid, jumper cables, snacks and water) and map the route.

At the pump, drivers can expect lower gas prices than last year with a gallon costing an average of $3.50. In 2023, gas cost $3.53 per gallon and in 2022, it cost nearly $5.

This year, the states with the most expensive gas are California ($4.80), Hawaii ($4.71), Washington ($4.21), Oregon ($4.07), Nevada ($4.04), Alaska ($3.90), Illinois ($3.88), Michigan ($3.70), Washington, D.C. ($3.66), and Indiana ($3.65).

Another cost to consider is tolls. Not all states have them, but check your route on Toll Guru to see how much change you might need on hand or how much money to have loaded on the E-ZPass.

The weather factor

High temperatures and a few thunderstorms are in the forecast for much of the country, according to AccuWeather . Both can cause travel delays.

The worst heat is expected in California.

Heat wave safety tips from the world's first chief heat officer

"It's going to be downright hot across the Southwest, especially in California and the Desert Southwest where record highs will be challenged," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Joseph Bauer told the website.

The Southern Plains and Southeast regions are also expected to feel the heat over the Independence Day weekend with higher than average temperatures.

High temperatures can slow down travel. When temperatures get too high, railway tracks can start to bend — forcing trains to slow down or stop completely. And planes may face weight restrictions during severe heat.

Traveling during the morning or evening can help offset the risk of heat-related delays.

While much of the country will face high temperatures on the Fourth of July, the Northern Plains, Midwest and portions of the Northeast may see thunderstorms, according to AccuWeather.

Flight delays and cancellations

As a rule, airlines are required to offer travelers a refund or book them another flight if they cancel a passenger's flight. The rules surrounding flight delays are more complicated.

Airlines are ordered to give full refunds instead of vouchers and to stop hiding fees

This U.S. Department of Transportation chart offers a full list of specific airline cancellation and delay policies.

Edinburgh & the Lothians

Research and insights on tourism in Edinburgh & the Lothians.

• Research and insight on tourism in Edinburgh and the Lothians is available from a range of different sources, including tourism monitors, national statistics, and commissioned research.
• On this page, you will find key data for the area. There are also links to further information regarding a particular source or study. 
• We will continue to update this page with the latest data over the next few months.

In this article:

1. scotland visitor survey 2023.

• 2. Key statistics 2022

In 2023, we commissioned the Scotland Visitor Survey to gather insight on visitor attitudes and behaviours. The scope of the survey was leisure overnight visitors only.

The survey explores all aspects of the visitor experience in Scotland. Further information on the background, methodology, and key highlights from the survey is also available.

Browse Scotland Visitor Survey 2023.

The visitor survey also allows us to explore the experiences of visitors who stayed overnight in a specific area. There are separate factsheets for Edinburgh and for the Lothians (excluding Edinburgh).

Overnight visitors to Edinburgh

were domestic visitors

were international visitors

were repeat visitors

were on a trip of a lifetime

Source: Scotland Visitor Survey 2023

Scotland Visitor Survey 2023 - Edinburgh factsheet

Published June 2024

Overnight visitors to the Lothians

Source: Scotland Visitor Survey, 2023

Scotland Visitor Survey 2023 - Lothians factsheet

2. key statistics 2022 (edinburgh & the lothians).

4.5 million

overnight trips by International visitors and GB residents in 2022

19.2 million

day trips by GB residents in 2022

17.5 million

nights spent in accommodations by International visitors and GB residents in 2022

£2.9 billion

total spend by International visitors and GB residents in 2022

Figures shown represent tourism performance for Edinburgh & the Lothians, 2022. Sources: International Passenger Survey, Great Britain Tourism Survey, Great Britain Day Visits Survey, 2022

Scotland's regions

Tourism research and statistics.

We provide factsheets for Scotland, broken down across 16 different regions.

Related links

Visitors from the uk, domestic sentiment tracker , international visitors, visitor interests and activities.

Money blog: Rival to Netflix - Tubi - launching in UK from Fox

Welcome to the Money blog, your place for personal finance and consumer news and tips. Leave a comment on any of the stories we're covering below.

Wednesday 3 July 2024 00:01, UK

• Popular electric car 'has potential fault that could pull it onto wrong side of road'
• Morrisons and Heinz team up to offer free meals
• Rival to Netflix launching in UK from Fox - and it's free
• NatWest and Lloyds hike fees for some current accounts
• Thinking about switching energy supplier? These are the cheapest tariffs available right now

Essential reads

• Women in Business : 'We don't get invited to golf' - The women who coordinated pregnancies to start virtual cancer care business and raised £5m
• What are your rights if your holiday is disrupted by wildfires?
• Basically... What is income tax?
• Money Problem : 'I hired a car via EasyJet but they are directing my complaint to someone else - what can I do?'
• How to split housework fairly with your partner
• Best of the Money blog - an archive

Ask a question or make a comment

A free streaming service to rival the likes of Netflix, Amazon Prime and Disney+ is being launched in the UK by Rupert Murdoch's Fox Corporation.

The service called Tubi will be funded by advertising and provide personalised streaming.

It already operates in North America where Fox said it has attracted 80 million active users.

More than 20,000 films and TV episodes will be on offer, Fox said, "one of the largest and most diverse content libraries in the UK".

While no specific titles were listed, Fox said users can expect blockbusters, original stories and hidden gems.

Is it any good?

It depends who you ask. 

It has a pretty bad 2.3 score on Trustpilot - but it's a relatively small sample at 66 reviews.

A PC Mag review was way more positive - rating it "excellent" with four stars out of five.

They said: "Tubi is a free, ad-supported video streaming service that features a delightfully large and frequently updated library of movies and shows. There's no reason not to give it a try."

Drawbacks were said to include no ad-free options and the 720p streaming resolution cap.

Why is it coming to UK?

Business presenter Ian King has been looking at this today.

He says: "Tubi's entry to the UK market has got some scratching their heads.

"Not only is the market seemingly saturated but production costs are rising, obliging the streamers to either raise subscription fees or rely on an increasingly smaller pool of advertisers.

"But rivals would do well to take the new competitor seriously and not least because Tubi has already, in the US, shown a clean pair of heels to many of the businesses it will be competing with here."

Read King's full analysis here ...

The average UK house price ticked up in June, leaving first-time buyers spending almost £2 out of every £5 on their mortgages.

Typical house prices rose by 0.2% to £266,064, meaning there has been a 1.5% increase on the same time last year, a report by Nationwide found.

June saw prices rise at half the pace they did in May, but housing affordability is "still stretched", said Robert Gardner, Nationwide's chief economist.

And Amy Reynolds, head of sales at estate agency Antony Roberts, observed more people were looking to downsize to release capital to live on and pay bills in a "hugely concerning" trend.

A bank with millions of customers in the UK will soon start charging people to use their debit cards abroad .

Metro Bank emailed customers last week to tell them it will introduce a 2.99% charge on all transactions outside the UK, including Europe, as of 29 August.

Anyone wanting to withdraw cash from their account will also pay the fee plus a £1.50 ATM charge.

The bank currently does not charge for debit card use and cash withdrawals in Europe.

Walkers have confirmed one of its  snacks has been discontinued . 

The Walkers Stax, which were similar to Pringles, are no longer available in the UK. 

Writing on X, a customer said he had been able to find the product abroad and asked if he could buy them over here. 

"We used to make Walkers Stax here in the UK, but sadly they're no more," the crisp brand replied. 

It also said there were no plans to bring them back to market.

However, it seems like the crisps might not have been around for some time...

In 2021, Walkers replied to another online post saying it was sorry that they were no longer available. 

Savers transferred £4.2bn extra into cash ISAs in May, according to new figures from the Bank of England - a record for the month.

It built on the previous record £12.3bn poured into the accounts in April, as people made the most of their annual tax-free savings.

Investment platform AJ Bell said figures show the 2024-25 tax year has "started with a big bang" for cash ISA savers.

Laith Khalaf, head of investment analysis, said: "Early bird ISA savers are no doubt out in force because they know taxes are rising as a result of frozen income tax thresholds."

He added: "At the same time tax thresholds have been frozen, interest rates have risen, making it more likely that savers will breach their tax-free savings allowance," he said.

"That means more people pushed up into the higher rate income tax band, where the personal savings allowance (the amount of interest you can earn each year before paying tax) falls from £1,000 to £500, or indeed to £0 for those in the additional rate tax bracket."

ISA savers can earn tax-free interest on their ISA savings, which are limited to £20,000 each year.

The Mortgage Works has announced it will reduce its rates by up to 0.3% across a range of its buy to let products tomorrow.

The new rates, which will be available to new and existing customers, will start at 3.69%. 

Here are some of the deals: 

• Buy-to-let - two-year fixed rate (purchase and remortgage) at 3.69% with a 3% fee, available up to 65% LTV
• Buy-to-let - five-year fixed rate (purchase and remortgage) at 4.04% with a 3% fee, available up to 65% LTV
• Buy-to-let - five-year fixed switcher rate at 4.14% with a 3% fee, available up to 75% LTV
• Buy-to-let - two-year fixed rate (purchase and remortgage) at 5.69% with a £3,995 fee, available up to 75% LTV

"Our products are some of the most competitive in the sector and, with rates now starting from 3.69%, these new deals will improve affordability and help widen market access for buy to let investors," said the company's Joe Avarne.

It comes after The Telegraph reported three major lenders had already cut rates this week. 

Halifax and NatWest slashed rates by up to 0.23% - Clydesdale Bank by 0.38% 

The cuts come as economists hope interest rates will fall in August, which will increase buyer activity. 

Wimbledon is in full swing (sorry!) and the world's best tennis players are battling it out on the famous grass courts in the hopes of being presented with the trophy in under two weeks' time.

But it's not just pride that comes with winning - there's a fairly decent prize fund as well.

This year, the prize for winning the singles is a huge £2.7m - up by an inflation-busting 15% compared with £2.35m in 2023. The prize money is the same for both sexes and has been since the rules changed in 2007.

Players don't have to win the championship to get their hands on some cash though, as there's also a prize fund for getting through each stage of the competition.

Here's a breakdown for the singles championship:

• First round - £60,000
• Second round - £93,000
• Third round - £143,000
• Fourth round - £226,000
• Quarter-finalists - £375,000
• Semi-finalists - £715,000
• Runner-up - £1.4m

Meanwhile, the prize for winning the doubles is £650,000, with runners up getting £330,000. For mixed doubles, it's £130,000 and £65,000 respectively.

Players taking part in wheelchair singles have the chance to nab £65,000 for winning.

Overall, the total prize money on offer across all championships is a whopping £50m - up 12% from last year.

Food inflation has fallen to its lowest level since 2021, new figures show.

New data from the British Retail Consortium (BRC)-NielsenIQ Shop Price Index reveals that food prices in June were 2.5% higher than a year ago.

This was down from 3.2% in May, and marked the fourteenth consecutive slowing of food inflation.

It means the rate is now lower than at any point since December 2021, with the drop fuelled by tumbling prices for staple products such as butter and coffee.

Inflation on fresh food slowed to 1.5%, down from 2% in May, while overall shop price inflation fell to 0.2% - the lowest level since October 2021.

BRC chief executive Helen Dickinson said the winner of Thursday's general election "will benefit from the work of retailers to cut their costs and prices, easing the cost of living for millions of households".

In the eastern Aegean, the islands of Chios and Kos experienced dangerous fires yesterday - with blazes raging on Kos for a second day today amid tinderbox conditions and unusually strong winds.

The Greek prime minister has warned his country faces another dangerous summer for wildfires.

Beyond the human tragedy these blazes can cause, there's a knock-on effect on tourism in the country.

So what are your rights if your holiday is disrupted by the fires? We've got a quick explainer here…

What if I have a package holiday and face cancellation or disruption?

The Foreign Office is not currently advising against travel to Greece, and with the majority of the country and its surrounding islands unaffected, holidays are still going ahead.

But holiday operators do have the right to cancel holidays for situations out of their control.

If the company you booked your package holiday with cancels your trip, the Competition and Markets Authority says customers are entitled to a refund within 14 days of the cancellation date.

Alternatively, they should be offered a replacement holiday of the same or better quality, or a lower-grade holiday with a partial refund.

If something goes wrong while you're away on a package holiday, Citizens Advice recommends getting in touch with the company or travel agent you booked with as soon as possible.

The Association of British Insurers (ABI) advised package holiday customers during last year's wildfires they may be entitled to a partial refund for a trip cut short due to wildfires, depending on several factors including what services were included and how much of the holiday had already been taken.

Will my insurance cover any issues?

This depends on a few things - including when you took out the policy, who you took it out with and what the exact terms and conditions are.

If your policy includes trip disruption or natural disaster cover, you should be covered if you have to cut short or cancel your holiday due to wildfires, according to the ABI.

Natural disaster cover isn't included in every policy, so read the T&Cs carefully.

You're unlikely to be covered if you took out the policy or booked the trip to a specific area affected by wildfires after they were known about. You also won't be covered if you travel against Foreign Office advice.

If you have booked a package holiday with an operator and it comes with an Atol certificate, you'll have extra protections, although you'll still need insurance for health and accident cover.

If you've booked the separate parts of your trip yourself, you're more reliant on insurance and will need to make sure you've got a policy in place that would cover you for wildfires and other natural disasters such as floods and storms.

What are my rights if my flight is cancelled?

Your flight is covered by UK law if it departs from a UK airport, arrives at a UK airport on a UK or EU airline, or arrives at an EU airport on a UK airline.

Under UK law, if your flight is cancelled the airline must either give you a refund or book you on an alternative flight - either with them or a rival airline.

Each airline will have its own cancellation policy for customers.

If your flight is cancelled within 14 days of travel - and you can prove it was the airline's fault - you are entitled to compensation. However, extreme weather and other "extraordinary circumstances" mean the airline can get out of paying.

And if I cancel the holiday myself?

If the Foreign Office doesn't advise against travel to a wildfire-affected country or area then under normal booking conditions, you'd be ineligible for a refund.

However, you could speak to your travel agent or holiday company if you're particularly concerned. They may offer a change of dates or destination - but there's no guarantee.

Some holiday accommodation will allow refunds until a certain date - so just check the details of your booking first.

By Sarah Taaffe-Maguire , business reporter

The rate of price rises is slowing but consumers are still shopping "more cautiously" at J Sainsbury plc, the company that owns Argos and the Sainsbury's chain of supermarkets announced today. 

"Unseasonal" wet weather in recent weeks dampened some sales.

Argos sales were down a worse-than-expected 6.2%, particularly purchases of consumer electronics, most notably gaming sales. 

As a result, J Sainsbury plc was the biggest share price faller on the FTSE 100 index of most valuable companies with a 4.34% tumble. Overall the index was down 0.38% on Tuesday morning while the larger FTSE 250 list was 0.15% down.

The strength of the euro still means the pound buys less than for the majority of the last month - £1 = €1.1778. Sterling is also down against the dollar, around levels seen six weeks ago. One pound buys $1.2630. 

Bad news for motorists as the oil price is at a two-month high - a barrel of Brent crude oil costs $89.90. It's still below last year's September high point of $98.36. 

A popular electric car sold in the UK has a "potentially significant" issue that could veer the driver into oncoming traffic, research has found.

Consumer group Which? says it discovered issues with the MG4's lane-assist technology while testing it on public roads.

It said the system, which is designed to keep the car in lane, twice pulled the car onto the wrong side of the road, with the tester having to use a "significant amount of force" to steer it back.

In another incident on a narrow country road, the lane-assist tech steered the car towards an oncoming vehicle, again forcing the tester to manually intervene.

According to Which?, visibility was good in all cases and the wider road had a "clearly defined centre line, while the country road had a clearly defined edge line".

It said the incidents were noticed during testing outside of controlled lab conditions, and couldn't be repeated in subsequent tests.

The issues come despite MG4 boasting a five-star Euro NCAP score, which takes into account safety features such as lane assist.

A spokesperson for the assessment programme told Which? that manufacturers "have a responsibility to ensure that the vehicle performance seen on a test track is also reflected in on-road driving".

Meanwhile, MG told the consumer watchdog it was "aware of some inconsistencies relating to the lane-departure warning system", making it "oversensitive" in certain conditions.

"We have been working on a continuous improvement programme with the supplier and the relevant regulatory authorities," the company said.

"This has resulted in an improved calibration of the ADAS systems, which we are close to having approved. Once this has been completed, we will implement it as a full software upgrade at no expense to the customer."

MG added that customers can turn off the lane-assist function via the car's touchscreen menu - but it insisted it had received no safety-related reports.

Just 18% of companies in the UK are led by women, and while data suggests female entrepreneurs are on the rise, men still receive more funding and are entrusted with higher average loans to get them started.

In an eight-part series every Tuesday, Money blog reporter  Jess Sharp  speaks to women who are bossing it in their respective fields - hearing their stories, struggles and advice for those who want to follow in their footsteps by starting a business.

This week, she has spoken to Kelly McCabe, the co-founder of the UK's first virtual cancer care clinic Perci Health...

When Kelly and her co-founder Morgan Fitzsimons set up their business, they made an unusual decision - they sat down and planned when they'd both have children. 

It's a topic many men will never feel the need to discuss with their business partners, but as two women, it was something they realistically needed to think about. 

"We had a long conversation and made a decision that we would have children at different times so that one person would stay in the business to allow the other to take the time out they needed," Kelly said.

"Of course, you can't plan this thing perfectly, but we were fortunate enough that it kind of happened that way." 

Morgan was the first to have her baby and returned to work after a couple of months off, and Kelly gave birth six months later. 

A month after having her now nearly two-year-old son, Kelly returned to work and Perci Health has continued to grow ever since.

'Whether it was NHS or private care -  I saw the same problem'

Despite Perci Health being a virtual care clinic, Kelly's career background had nothing to do with app development - she started out in the NHS. 

One of the roles she had was helping people with cancer eat and drink while receiving treatment.

Working mostly with people with head and neck cancer, she supported them with tube feeding and their rehabilitation back to solid foods. 

After working in a similar area in private healthcare, she realised all cancer patients were experiencing the same problem.

"There was a universal experience at the end of treatment where you would have your final review with your cancer nurse or oncologist, and they would say 'see you again in six months or 12 months time'," Kelly said. 

"Patients would come back into our follow-up clinics with all sorts of problems they had been living with for six months or 12 months and no one was really managing them.

"They had just be grinning and bearing it, thinking it was just par for the course after having cancer." 

She decided to come up with an idea that would connect people living with cancer with professionals who could provide long-term support and optimise their wellbeing. 

Male investors in a male-bias sector 

With a plan in mind, she reached out to her friend Morgan, who had a background in digital marketing, and the pair got started working weekends and evenings to build their company.

When COVID hit, they made the decision to "just go for it", quit their jobs and put all their focus on the business. 

Their first round of funding came from family and friends, raising £500,000, which gave them enough to pay themselves a reduced salary and hire a small team. 

But more funding was needed, and they started reaching out to investors. 

With Kelly's clinical experience, the issue she was trying to solve in the health care sector seemed "obvious", but the first hurdle she faced was convincing others that it was "important enough to solve". 

"The challenges seemed very obvious to us, but they might not necessarily be obvious to investors, and I think that is particularly true if you're solving a problem that affects women," she said. 

"The majority of investors are still male... and when you are trying to describe yourself as a technology company, then sadly there is still a male bias in that sector."

"I'm really sad to say that it's kind of the old-fashioned things you think of, like a lot of them sell on the golf course or over lunch or going shooting, and we don't get invited to golf or to shoot. 

"You don't get many female-owned technology businesses, so that was a barrier." 

Pregnant, pitching and spotting red flags 

While meeting potential investors, Kelly was heavily pregnant and was "nervous" to explain her situation out of fear it would put them off investing. 

"When I had my first conversation with our now lead investor, I was 38 weeks pregnant, so we just did all the conversations on Zoom," she said. 

"She called and said 'we'd like to invite you in to meet the team and do a formal pitch. Can you do it next week?' and obviously I had to tell her I was heavily pregnant. 

"She could tell I was nervous about telling her... but she said she was sorry that I had to explain myself, and we could just delay the pitch. 

"We pushed it back about six weeks, but not all investors are that understanding, which is why I was so nervous to explain it." 

Unfortunately, Kelly said she was "definitely asked" in the early fundraising rounds if she was planning to have children. 

"The feedback from male investments clubs was that women don't know how they feel and may not return to work after having a baby or their motivation to run a business may change," she said.

"Early on, we were just looking for investment and we would have taken any partner, but now these are the red flags that we look for.

"There is some definite progress to be made."

In total, Kelly has raised £5m and still owns 40% of Perci Health. 

All the challenges

Away from the challenge of fundraising, Kelly also had to deal with life as a new mum, which brought its own challenges as a business owner. 

She explained how having children early in the company's life meant it was still "relatively fragile" and there wasn't the chance to take maternity leave knowing her job would be safe when she returned. 

"There was a bit of a juggle with that and needing to go back to work very quickly after the baby was born, and then the other challenge is childcare," she said. 

"You don't want to be taking too much money out of your business and you're rewarded with equity rather than a salary - but of course, equity doesn't pay for childcare." 

Kelly also found there was an "underestimation" of her abilities from male investors, and it was something she noticed in the choice of language used to describe her. 

"I believe women business owners are underestimated and that is evidenced by the fact that less investment goes to us, but there's research that shows women-owned companies are more profitable," she said. 

"The language they use is interesting. For example, I'm often described as a conservative CEO within the portfolio because I'm focused on financial preservation... but would my male counterpart be seen as such or would he be seen as having optimal control?" 

Kelly's advice

Kelly's top tip is to find a business partner, possibly even two, that can help your business grow. 

"Building a business alone would be significantly harder," she said. 

"Co-founders just help ease the burden when one of you needs to take time out, so find yourself a good business partner." 

She also recommended taking "a lot of time" to build a "strong network", which she said would help "protect you as your business grows". 

"There are a lot of female entrepreneurs or female business networks that are great. Morgan and I are members of lots of them," she added. 

"It's amazing how the amount of advice and support that we have been given for free from other women just wanting to help." 

She said it was important to have a "really thick skin and to be very persistent". 

"Even in the very best businesses, you get those 100 no's before you get that one yes," she added. 

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