Tourism in the Outer Hebrides

In 2017 (the year of our last survey), the islands welcomed 219 000 visitors, adding £65m to the economy of the Western Isles each year.  

The industry is growing at around 5% pa, given the profile of the is growing, and we are well aligned with the growth drivers in the tourism industry

Given visitors, move between islands, an exact split between islands is not possible, but the approximate split is Lewis (45%), Uist (25%), Harris (20%), Barra (10%)

Tourism accounts for 10-15% of economic activity on the islands.  The proportion is higher outside the Stornoway area, with the popular destinations of Barra and Harris the most dependent on tourism

Tourism directly supports the equivalent of 1000 full-time jobs on the islands.  It also plays a significant role in supporting other sectors.  Retailers and restaurants in Stornoway obtain up to 40% of their sales from visitors. It also creates significant demand for the trades and construction industry.

We tend to be an industry of micro-businesses, with tourism supplementing income from other sources, such as crofting or office-work.

Leisure visitors stay for an average of 6 days.  Due to our location, and the nature of our transport links, we have no day visitors.

Two-thirds of our visitors are regular visitors to the islands.  Over 80% of our visitors are from the UK, with the majority coming from other parts of Scotland.

The industry remains seasonal, though the season has extended significantly in recent years, from 3-4 months a generation ago to 7-8 months today.

Priorities for the tourism industry include:

• Extending the season, to provide more secure employment through year-round attractions
• Increasing the value to the island economy from each visitor
• Balancing the share of tourism across the islands
• Addressing infrastructure issues, particularly in relation to transport
• Improving digital capabilities in the industry
• Diversifying our visitor base

Download our Destination Strategy here.

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