Marine tourism 'worth £3.7bn to Scottish economy'

Marine recreation and tourism is worth £3.7bn a year to the Scottish economy, a report has estimated. The Scottish Marine Recreation and Tourism Survey found £1.3bn is spent on activities such as wildlife watching, sailing, kayaking, surfing and angling. A further £2.4bn is spent on general recreation and tourism such as coastal cycling, beach combing and short walks. The survey covered 23 activities undertaken at sea or around the Scottish coastline. General marine and coastal recreation, including beach activities, was found to be the most popular. The survey suggested that businesses in the sector were optimistic about the future, with most respondents anticipating growth in turnover over the next five years. The most positive outlook was reported by firms running excursions, training and hiring or chartering equipment including boats. Businesses serving bird and wildlife watching, general recreation, canoeing and kayaking and other boat-based activities also tended to have a positive view of the next five years. Image copyright VisitScotland Image caption Beach activities were found to be among the most popular in the survey Commenting on the findings, Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead said: "Our seas are the jewel in Scotland's natural crown. "They provide energy, food and are a massive draw for visitors from home and abroad." Sail Scotland chief executive Daniel Steel added: "This research confirms what we hear about our scenery, wildlife, and food and drink being a huge draw and underlines the contribution that marine recreation and tourism is playing in driving the Scottish economy. "The challenge through the Scottish Marine Tourism Strategy is for us to work collaboratively to grow this even further over the next few years." The Scottish government, the Firth of Clyde Forum, the Scottish Coastal Forum and the Crown Estate contributed to the survey, which was carried out between August and October last year. It was completed by a total of 2,170 individuals and the representatives of 137 organisations.