Scotland's Marine Economic Statistics 2023

Marine and coastal tourism includes tourism and recreation businesses located within 100 metres of the coastline. Tourism businesses are specified in the Sustainable Tourism growth sectors. Postcodes are used to determine whether the businesses are within 100 metres of the coast. This method may include some businesses that are not marine-related, and exclude some that are. But, it is a reasonable and replicable method for estimating the marine and coastal tourism economy using existing data.  Scottish Annual Business Statistics provides this data. See Data and Methodology for more information.

In 2023, marine and coastal tourism generated £699 million aGVA, 0.38% of the Scottish economy and 12% of the marine economy aGVA. Marine tourism employed 34,600 people, 1.3% of Scottish employment. It is the biggest marine economy employer with 46% of marine economy employment. However, most jobs will be seasonal and part time, which is reflected in the estimated full time equivalent (FTE) of 25,000.

Scottish sustainable tourism was estimated to be worth £4.9 billion in approximate Gross Value Added (aGVA) in 2023, an increase of 3.5% compared to 2022.

From 2022 to 2023, marine tourism aGVA decreased by 1%. In the longer term, from 2014 to 2023, aGVA decreased by 2%. From 2014 to 2023, employment increased by 30%. 

Figure 9. Marine tourism aGVA was stable at around £700 million between 2014 and 2019. It then dropped dramatically to £404 million in 2020, as a result of Covid-19 restrictions, before increasing to £703 million in 2022.

Marine tourism aGVA by year, 2014 to 2023

The marine tourism economic values are available by Scottish Marine Regions. In the Forth and Tay region, marine tourism generated £197 million aGVA in 2023. This was 28% of the Scottish marine tourism aGVA in 2023.