Scotland’s Tourism Efforts Highlight a Post-Brexit UK Worry Outside London
Photo Credit: Duncansby Head is the most northeasterly part of the British mainland. VisitScotland is trying to safeguard its European market. VisitScotland / Kenny Lam
Skift Take
European visitors make up a small part of Scotland's tourism pie — but they are still an important part. Like other big geopolitical changes, Brexit offers up plenty of uncertainty, which often isn't great for tourism.
Since the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union more than three years ago, the country’s tourism industry has become something of a battleground for competing views over its future.
While the depreciation of the pound has made going on holiday more expensive those coming into the country have found their money has gone a lot further.
Initially this sparked a mini boom with 2017 becoming a record year but since then numbers have slipped back proving that growth — with its links to wider geopolitical and economic concerns — is not guaranteed.
The problem is the euphoria of cheap travel has gradually worn off. This might not matter in places like London with its thousands of flights a day, but its not the same for other parts of the UK.
Scotland, for example, takes a relatively small proportion of the UK’s total tourism numbers and its tourist board is trying to counter the “uncertainty and misinformation around Brexit” through a new campaign aimed at Eu
