A visitor economy that is thriving and well managed in Ayrshire and our islands is in everyone’s interest. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, in 2019 visitors spent more than £600 million in our region and accounted for nearly 3 million overnight stays. In 2018 the tourism sector across the region employed 13,000 people and accounted for £258.5m gross value added (VisitScotland, 2019)
The Ayrshire and our Islands Visitor Economy Strategy 2023 (PDF 6.26Mb) sets out the strategic vision we have for tourism in our region. Working at a regional level with public and private partners the Ayrshire Visitor Economy Leadership group sets out its vision for a thriving, inclusive visitor economy across Ayrshire that delivers transformation experiences for visitors, builds prosperity for our communities and nurtures the natural environment.