Contribution of the West Highland Way to the economy in Scotland
This briefing has been compiled ahead of the debate on the ‘Contribution of the West Highland Way to the economy in Scotland’ to be held on Wednesday 16 March at 4:30pm in Westminster Hall. The Member in charge of the debate is Steven Paterson MP. A more detailed briefing can be prepared for Members on request to the Library.
The West Highlands Way is a 96 mile hiking route in western Scotland from Milngavie to Fort William.
Most of the route lies within the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park.
The Park authorities estimate that 39,500 people walk the whole distance of the route each year. (Source: correspondence with the House of Commons Library).
Visit Scotland have produced a Fact sheet which reports on the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Visitor Survey for 2012. Some key findings relating to the whole of the National Park for 2012 were that:
- There were 1.75 million staying visitors to the Park
- Who spent a total of £363 million in the region.
- 52% of visitors were from Scotland, 15% were from overseas and the remaining 33% were from the rest of the UK.
- The average stay was around 4 nights.
The Park authorities have also produced a report called Valuing the Park which provides more data but refers to 2009.
The Scottish Natural Heritage report, John Muir coast to coast trail: economic benefit study (2012) provides some economic analysis of a range of walking routes in Scotland.
Visit Scotland have produced a summary report looking at Tourism in Western Scotland (2011).
For a summary of the impact of tourism on the whole of Scotland, please see Visit Scotland’s Key facts on tourism in 2014.
The House of Commons Library briefing, Tourism: statistics and policy provides more UK level data.