Friday January 2nd 2026
Tantallon Castle, North Berwick, is one of East Lothian's top ten most visited attractions.
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Marie Sharp
Visitors to East Lothian brought in £379million to the local economy last year – the highest amount in over a decade with the impact of self-catering and caravan stays up by nearly 30 per cent.
A report on tourism in the county in 2024 has revealed the income and value created was well above pre Covid figures.
And a breakdown of visitors to the county has revealed the number making it their only destination during their holiday is up with three in five making no plans to go anywhere else during their stay.
The report on 2024 for the East Lothian Council said there were around 1.6million tourist visits during the year with an estimated 4,300 jobs supported in the tourism and hospitality industry.
The average visitors stayed three and a half nights spending around £59million on local accommodation.
The report estimated that spend overall in East Lothian by tourists was £282.7million with indirectcand “induced economic effects of local businesses and residents spending tourism revenues locally,” estimated to account for a further £96.75m, together totalling £379m.
In 2024 a study of visitors described one in five as ‘rural relaxers’ – often older people and families looking to enjoy nature and wildlife, with only seven per cent golfers.
And it revealed the top ten tourist attractions in the county with the Scottish Seabird Centre, in North Berwick number one with 21 per cent of visitors.
East Lothian Provost and cabinet spokesperson for economic growth Councillor John McMillan welcomed the impact of tourism in the county.
He said: “Despite this being a time of financial challenges for many of us, our visitor economy continues to grow and that is a real testament to what East Lothian has to offer and the quality of our visitor and hospitality industry.”
The top ten visitor attractions in 2024 in East Lothian were:
– Scottish Seabird Centre 21%
– John Muir Way 14%
– Archerfield Walled Garden 12%
– Tantallon Castle 12%
– John Muir’s Birthplace 10%
– East Links Family Park 10%
Tweet Share on Facebook
