An independent report has found that tourism opportunities related to the giant pandas could bring extra visitor expenditure of £28 million to Edinburgh’s economy and £20 million to the Scottish economy over ten years.
The report also suggests that the equivalent of 55 jobs or equivalent working hours could be supported and safeguarded across Edinburgh and 38 across Scotland, predominately in the leisure and retail sector.
Direct beneficiaries are predicted to be those who serve tourists as part of their job - hotels, shops, pubs and restaurants, taxi drivers, airline staff. Indirect beneficiaries will be those from anywhere in the Scottish economy, such as people who supply goods and services to the direct beneficiary businesses. Included beneficiaries will be business who serve employees of the direct beneficially businesses.
These findings are based on all the major stakeholders working collectively and embracing the opportunity. Stakeholders include Scottish Enterprise, Visit Scotland, City of Edinburgh Council and tourism businesses.
Eddie Brogan, Director of Tourism, Scottish Enterprise said: "The study shows there is significant scope to build on the interest the giant pandas have already generated to deliver substantial economic benefit to Edinburgh and Scotland."
Malcolm Roughead, Chief Executive of VisitScotland, said: "It is not only Edinburgh Zoo which benefits from the pandas, with hotels, restaurants and, indeed, other visitor attractions also able to cash in. It is vital that members of Scotland's tourism industry continues to work together to make the most of the fantastic opportunity and collectively boost Scotland’s visitor economy."
Read the full report
Read the summary report