UCI Cycling World Championships and Banksy exhibition spark massive growth in visitor numbers and spending in Glasgow

Visitors spent £2.35 billion in Glasgow in 2023, almost 50% (48.6%) more than in 2022.

Scottish Tourism Economic Impact Model (STEAM) data for 2023 also shows a huge rise in overnight visitors to the city.

A total of 3.91 million visitors stayed in Glasgow overnight, up from 2.65 million the previous year. This is a 47.3% increase, with people staying 2.5 nights on average.

Day visitor numbers are also up from 17.69 million in 2022 to 21.8 million. The total number of people visiting Glasgow increased by 26.6% to 25.75 million in 2023.

The figures emphasise the positive impact tourism continues to have on Glasgow’s economy. In 2023, tourism supported 37,117 local full-time jobs, up from 28,840 in 2022.

The supported jobs are across a range of areas, including food and drink, transport, shopping, and accommodation.

Visitor numbers and spending have been significantly boosted by Glasgow hosting the first-ever UCI Cycling World Championships. The event attracted over 500,000 spectators and 8,000 athletes to the city.

People from all over the world also travelled to Glasgow to experience street artist Banksy’s first solo exhibition in 14 years.

More than 180,000 people visited Cut & Run at Glasgow's Gallery of Modern Art, which broke box office records.