Tourism in the Highlands/Loch Ness

Tourism is one of the most important industries in the Highlands, employing almost 14% of the region’s workforce and injecting over £600 million into the region’s economy.

Tourists made two and a half million trips to the Highlands in 2008 and that figure is expected to be higher in 2009. Most of these tourists will pass through Inverness and many will visit Loch Ness, either by road or by boat.

Urquhart Castle is the second most popular visitor attraction in the region and the most visited paid for attraction.

It is estimated that the number of tourists visiting the region will continue to increase for the foreseeable future, as the trend for UK residents to holiday at home continues and more international passengers land at Inverness airport.

*Statistics provided by VisitScotland