Assessing the economic impacts of nature based tourism in Scotland

4.6 Other studies
• The trips most likely to have lasted 4 or more nights included those
undertaken for game fishing or deer stalking, while the majority of coarse
angling and pheasant shooting trips were of a shorter duration.
• In terms of places of origin, respondents who lived in Scotland were the most
likely to indicate that their most recent trip had lasted less than 4 nights while
international visitors were more likely to have spent longer in Scotland.
• In around two-thirds of trips country sports were the only trip purpose (63%)
and this was more likely to have been the case during short breaks (73%).
• In most of the remaining trips (32%) country sports were the main, but not the
only purpose while on a very small proportion of occasions trips involved
country sports but not as a main purpose (4%).
• The country sport was most likely to be the only trip purpose when salmon or
coarse angling was undertaken and in trips involving deer stalking or wood
pigeon, pheasant, partridge or wild fowl shooting.
• The country sport was more likely to be one of a number of reasons for the
trip when trout angling, sea angling or grouse shooting was undertaken.
• For around half of international visitors the country sport was the only reason
for the trip, while a similar sized proportion stated that it was the main, but not
the only, purpose.
• In addition to the country sport activity undertaken, the following percentages
of respondents reported that they, or members of their party, had carried out
the following activities during the trip:
Shopping for gifts 36%
Visiting castles and other historic sites 29%
Sightseeing by car 28%
Hiking/hill walking 28%
Bird/wildlife watching 25%
Golfing 13%
Visiting museums, art galleries, etc 13%
Watersports/boating 8%
In addition to the main field sports studies reviewed above, it is evident from our
literature search and assessment that a considerable number of local area studies
have been carried out. For example:
• An Assessment of the Economic Impact of Water-Related Recreation and Tourism
in the Spey Catchment. 2003. Glasgow Caledonian University and University of
Edinburgh, 2004.
This assessment found that anglers contributed £10.9m to the local economy,
supporting 367 jobs, with water sports (primarily canoeing) contributing £1.7m
locally, and supporting 48 jobs.
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