Current status: Answered by Jim Mather on 27 May 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate it has made of the economic benefit to Scotland of (a) golf and (b) bagpiping.
Information on the economic benefit to Scotland of golf and of bagpiping is not held centrally. However, recent research on 70 golf courses around Scotland shows that the value of golf tourism to Scotland is estimated to be nearly £97 million from these courses alone. VisitScotland is currently working to determine the total value of golf tourism to Scotland. Estimates from previous Ryder Cup tournaments suggest that it is reasonable to expect that there will be positive economic impacts on Scotland through hosting the 2014 Ryder Cup “ likely to lie in the range of £82 million to £148 million.