FEATURE excise duty in the UK autumn budget. The high 80% tax burden on an average priced bottle of whisky means that foreign visitors often pay more tax for Scotch in Scotland than in their own countries. That can’t be the right way to encourage more visitors and to support an industry that plays such an important
“ I AM CONFIDENT THAT AS WE SEE NEW WHISKY MARKETS BEING OPENED UP, WE WILL ALSO SEE A FURTHER INCREASE IN VISIORS.”
FIONA HYSLOP
role in the economy, tourism and local communities.” Tourism Secretary Fiona Hyslop said, “These figures are certainly good news, showing the esteem with which Scotch whisky is held around the world and the value of the whisky industry to Scotland, beyond simply revenue generated by sales and exports. “With further enhancements to the visitor experience at distilleries around Scotland, the Scotch whisky industry can continue to generate interest among domestic and international audiences. “I am confident that as we see new whisky markets
being opened up, we will also see a further increase in visitors, strengthening local economies in the process.” Malcolm Roughead, chief executive of VisitScotland, commented, “It’s wonderful to see that Scotch Whisky distilleries enjoyed a record number of visits in 2016. It’s a testament to the hard work put in by these businesses to give visitors the best experience possible. VisitScotland is committed to working closely with businesses to showcase the country’s rich assets. “Whisky is one of Scotland’s most valuable commodities with people from all over the world coming to our shores to experience an authentic Scottish dram. A culinary icon, it remains as important as ever to the tourism industry with one in five visitors making a trip to a whisky distillery during their stay and even more visiting a bar, pub or restaurant to sample our renowned national drink. “The success of Scotland’s whisky distilleries is particularly apt as we celebrate the Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology. From World Heritage Sites to ancient monuments, cultural traditions to our myths, stories and legends – the yearlong programme is shining a spotlight on some of Scotland’s greatest assets as well as our hidden gems.” n
Karen Betts, Scotch Whisky Association 14