Island tourism businesses urged to capitalise on winter boom

A new survey from VisitScotland found that of those who are intending to take a domestic autumn/winter break, and have chosen Scotland as their destination, one in five are planning a visit to the Scottish isles. 

These findings, from VisitScotland's 'domestic sentiment' tracker, compares with 13 per cent for the same period in 2022. 

Island destinations also received a recent boost with news that the Scottish islands have been listed by influential US travel guide series Frommers among their ‘Best Places To Go in 2024’. 

Visitors can enjoy a strong food and drink offering on Arran with distilleries and breweries, as well as botanical and cheese businesses.

There are also local Christmas fairs and markets all over the island to pick up unique local gifts for family and friends. 

Cumbrae, too, has its own gin distillery as well as the Cathedral of the Isles, Garrison House and numerous other attractions.

Outdoor types seeking a more active break in the run up to the party season can enjoy walking, cycling and water sports in spectacular scenery on Arran and Cumbrae.  

VisitScotland is encouraging businesses to align with its year-round promotional activity and marketing calendar, as tourism operators aim to convert that interest into bookings.

Regional director Lynsey Eckford said: “Ayrshire and Arran is a fantastic place to visit any time, and winter can be truly breath-taking.  

“Our marketing aims to connect with visitors, drawing on their emotions and showing them what a visit to Ayrshire and Arran’s dramatic scenery and wildlife can feel like year-round. 

“We understand that tourism remains in a period of recovery, and challenges remain for our industry, but there are positive signs overall.

"We continue to focus on the responsible growth of our industry, including the regional and seasonal spread of visitors and attracting higher value visitors who stay longer and spend more.”