Scotland's Marine Economic Statistics 2022

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 2022, marine and coastal tourism generated £633 million aGVA, 0.38% of the Scottish economy and 13% of the marine economy aGVA. Marine tourism employed 31,100 people, 1.2% of Scottish employment. It is the biggest marine economy employer with 44% of marine economy employment. However, most jobs will be seasonal and part time, which is reflected in the estimated full time equivalent (FTE) of 22,600.

Scottish sustainable tourism was estimated to be worth £4.8 billion in approximate Gross Value Added (aGVA) in 2022, a increase of 42.1% compared to 2021.

From 2021 to 2022, marine tourism aGVA increased by 22%. In the longer term, from 2013 to 2022, aGVA remained stable, decreasing by less than 1%. From 2013 to 2022, employment increased by 6%. 

Figure 9. Marine tourism aGVA was stable at around £600 million between 2013 and 2019. It then dropped dramatically to £369 million in 2020, as a result of Covid-19 restrictions, before increasing to £633 million in 2022.

Marine tourism aGVA by year, 2013 to 2022

The marine tourism economic values are available by Scottish Marine Regions. In the Forth and Tay region, marine tourism generated £187 million aGVA in 2022. This was 30% of the Scottish marine tourism aGVA in 2022.