What we did on our holiday in Scottish Borders

Most visitors to the Scottish Borders are repeat visitors to Scotland, according to the latest regional research from VisitScotland.

The Scotland Visitor Survey 2023: Scottish Borders, published today (Wednesday, 26 June) by the national tourism organisation, found that around three quarters of respondents rated their holiday or short break experience 9 or 10 out of 10.

A total of 74% of visitors to the Scottish Borders toured around Scotland, staying in two or more places, and spent on average 3.1 nights in the region.

In line with Scotland-wide survey results, scenery and landscape (74%), and history and culture (52%), were the top two motivations for visitors who travelled to the region.

Most (43%) visited a cathedral, abbey or place of worship, with historic houses (39%) and castles (34%) among the other popular activities.

The Scotland Visitor Survey usually takes place every three or four years but was delayed due to the pandemic and was conducted in 2023.

It aims to help understand why visitors take a holiday or short break in Scotland and how they rate their experiences when here.

Visitors were surveyed in-person between March and October last year, and then responded to an online survey when they returned home.

Gordon Smith, Destination Development Director at VisitScotland, said: “The Scotland Visitor Survey provides valuable insight for everyone involved in tourism and events.

“The region has a wealth of history and heritage for visitors to explore, from Abbotsford to Jedburgh Abbey, so it’s unsurprising they are among the top activities for visitors to the area.

“It’s encouraging that the region saw a huge number of repeat visitors to Scotland showing that visitors are keen to return due to the experience and welcome they receive.

“The research also reveals that many visitors to Scottish Borders rated their holiday experience highly, which is a fantastic endorsement of the sector.

“Understanding the motivations and experiences of visitors is essential in developing a world-class visitor destination. We will continue to work with businesses and partners to ensure Scottish Borders, as part of the South of Scotland Responsible Tourism Strategy, is a sustainable tourism destination that benefits all.”

Scotland Visitor Survey 2023: Scottish Borders can be found https://www.visitscotland.org/research-insights/regions/scottish-borders

ENDS