Visitor numbers to heritage attractions in Scotland rose to 49,708,483, showing a 3.9pc increase in 2024 compared to the previous year.
Edinburgh Castle remains the most popular paid attraction with 1,981,152 visitors, reflecting a growth of 4pc.
The Cullen Visitor Centre experienced a visitor surge of 42.8pc, reaching a total of 374,443 individuals.
Free attractions, including the National Museum of Scotland, saw 31,859,344 visits, climbing by 4.8pc in 2024.
The increase in visitors is linked to the allure of heritage sites used in film productions, driving “set-jetting” tourism trends.
Scotland’s business minister Richard Lochhead shared: “These figures hammer home the strength and breadth of Scotland’s tourism sector. I’m pleased that so many of the country’s much-loved attractions continue to attract more and more people through their doors. This is testament to the dedication of the thousands of people that work hard to create memorable experiences and showcase the best of Scotland’s history and culture to people worldwide. We will continue to work hand in hand with the sector to continue this upwards trend. In the Scottish Budget, we’ve allocated an additional £2m to VisitScotland to help spearhead growth, benefiting attractions and businesses.”
