Tourism

The Games highlighted Glasgow as a great place to visit
Crowds of people walking on Buchanan Street on a sunny day during the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Spotlight on Glasgow

The Commonwealth Games raised Glasgow's profile as a tourism destination.

Around 690,000 people visited the city during the 12 days of competition.

Glasgow 2014 also had wider international media coverage than any previous Commonwealth Games.

It's estimated to have reached a global audience of over one billion people.

Since then, the number of overseas tourists coming for overnight stays in Glasgow has grown.

You can see more details about this below.

An infographic outlining the increase in international visitors to Glasgow.
Source: International Passenger Survey.

VisitScotland also named The Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games as the greatest moment for Scottish tourism in the last 50 years.

Lynne Cooper, VisitScotland’s Regional Director for Glasgow City Region, said: "Ten years on from the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, the city continues to attract visitors from within the UK and across the globe. Subsequent events have cemented Glasgow’s reputation as a world-leading host of major sporting events and the city’s credentials as a leading cultural destination are evidenced by
award-winning attractions such as The Burrell Collection and last year’s record-breaking Banksy
exhibition. Glasgow is well-known for its music venues and festivals, and with its vibrant food and drink scene the city is constantly evolving its visitor offering. Events like the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games shine a spotlight on the city and the wider area. They are an important driver for tourism,
supporting wider businesses, jobs and contributing significantly to the local economy, while reinforcing Scotland’s reputation as a must-visit destination."

Conventions and conferences

The Commonwealth Games helped Glasgow build its reputation as an international conference destination.

The city attracted 59 sport or Games-related conferences between 2013 and 2018. 

Since then, Glasgow has continued to host conferences of this nature, including the Host City Conference several times.

These events welcomed thousands of delegates and generated millions of pounds for Glasgow’s economy.

They have helped to establish Glasgow as a trusted host for international conferences.

The city has gone from strength to strength and hosted over 350 events in 2023.

More than 115,000 people attended. They brought over £140 million in economic benefit to the city from delegate spend.

Visitors during the Games

Crowds of people walking up Buchanan Street during the 2014 Commonwealth Games with the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall in the distance.
Crowds on Buchanan Street during Glasgow 2014.
People taking photoes in George Square during the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. Crowds are gathered outside the superstore and around the Big G sculpture, the Met Tower with People Make Glasgow on it is overlooking the square.
People in George Square.
Large crowds of people walking down Buchanan Street on a sunny day during the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.
A packed Buchanan Street during the Games.

Richard Muir, deputy chief executive, Glasgow Chamber of Commerce said: "The 2014 Commonwealth Games stand out as one of our city's proudest achievements, showcasing Glasgow's ability to host
world-class events. With 690,000 visitors and an economic boost of over £70 million, the Games highlighted the very best of Glasgow.

"We have since built on this success, attracting even more major events that bring investment, create jobs, and offer some of the finest cultural experiences available anywhere in the world.

"Residents, businesses, and visitors alike can fondly recall the impact of the Commonwealth Games. As a lasting legacy, we can look forward to many more high-profile events, a testament to the exceptional
execution of the Games."