Americans flock to Scotland as firm doubles its turnover in one year

THE post-pandemic period has seen a boost in the travel industry, and one Edinburgh-based firm finds itself at the forefront of this with an increase in transatlantic tourism.

Scottish travel firm Lindsay’s Highland Tours has doubled its turnover and has reported sales of £264,811 to the year end 31 January, which compares favourably to the previous 12 months’ figure of £132,159.

Profit before tax was down at £13,274 (£35,143), the decrease reflecting a significant investment in staff, vehicles and a website overhaul.

The family-run firm specialises in luxury tours around Scotland and has been buoyed by the increase in demand from holidaymakers from the USA who enjoy travelling with a local guide with insight into different parts of the country.

Earlier this year, VisitScotland said the country was enjoying a faster recovery in international tourism compared to other areas of the UK.

The Association of Leading Visitor Attractions (ALVA) recently released its annual members’ figures which showed visits to Scotland’s most popular sites increased by 21% last year compared to 2022, with the UK average sitting at 19%.

Steven Lindsay, managing director of Lindsay’s Highland Tours said: “As proud Scots, we found that the true essence of our homeland was lost in oversized tour groups and generic itineraries.

“We know the real magic of Scotland lies in its intimate tales, hidden trails and majestic landscapes that can only be appreciated through a tailor-made journey.

“We set out to offer something different: tours that are not about herding tourists but about understanding individual interests and creating deeply personal Scottish experiences that resonate long after they leave.

“People are just keen to get away while others have had holidays postponed due to the pandemic and are now feeling comfortable to rearrange them.

“That is reflected in our latest set of results. We have reinvested heavily to set us up for continued growth and we’re very confident for the year ahead given the bookings we already have confirmed.”