McAlpine welcomes jobs boost for Dumfries and Galloway as Scottish tourism booms

SNP MSP Joan McAlpine has welcomed news that the number of people working in tourism in Dumfries and Galloway increased by 16% in one year – with Scotland as a whole seeing an increase of 11 per cent.

 

The new statistics produced by Visit Scotland show that tourism supports 6,500 jobs in Dumfries and Galloway, 11% of total jobs in the area.

 

Between 2014 and 2015, the number of people employed in the sector across Scotland grew to 217,000 – with the 11 per cent increase in Scotland above the 4 per cent rise in Great Britain as a whole.

 

SNP MSP Joan McAlpine commented:

 

“Our tourism industry is going from strength to strength and this increase in jobs shows the vital role that tourism plays in Scotland’s economy and particularly in Dumfries and Galloway.

 

“Scotland is famed for its warm welcome, incredible scenery and top class attractions – and with 2017 the Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology we are celebrating our exceptional historical attractions.

 

“With Scotland ranked second in the Rough Guides list of the best countries in the world to visit this year, tourism in Dumfries and Galloway has a very bright future.”

 

The 217,000 members of the Scottish tourism industry represent 9 per cent of the country’s total employment and is the highest tourism level since Business Register and Employment Survey (BRES) records began in 2009.

 

41% of staff in the tourism industry work in restaurants, 24% in hotels and other accommodation and 17% in bars and related businesses.

 

Malcolm Roughead, Chief Executive of VisitScotland, said:

 

“Tourism is more than a holiday experience. It creates jobs and sustains communities in every corner of Scotland all year round and is at the heart of the Scottish economy.

 

“These fantastic new figures show that, from hotel owners to waiting staff, tourism really is the driving force for providing the jobs of today and tomorrow. They also demonstrate the industry’s commitment to the 2020 strategy – which aims to generate economic growth through tourism.”

 

Notes:

 

	Column 1: Tourism Employment 2015	Column 2: % change in Tourism Employment 2014 to 2015	Column 3: Tourism Employment as a Proportion of Total Employment in LA 2015
Dumfries and Galloway	6,500	16%	11%