July 17, 2025 09:52 pm (IST)
Follow us:
facebook-white sharing button
twitter-white sharing button
instagram-white sharing button
youtube-white sharing button
Karnataka govt blames RCB for Bengaluru stampede, refers to Kohli's online message too | 'Premature and irresponsible': Indian pilots' body slams Air India crash probe report | Bihar CM Nitish Kumar announces free electricity upto 125 units ahead of assembly polls | Air India finds 'no issues' with fuel control switch on Boeing 787-8 planes after precautionary checks | Anchor runs mid-telecast as Israeli airstrikes hit Syria's state TV building | Rare oil painting of Mahatma Gandhi sells for an astounding Rs 1.7 crore | Brother of Yemeni man killed by Nimisha Priya opposes pardon of Kerala nurse | Can't win today's warfare with outdated weapons: CDS General Anil Chauhan seeks upgradation of India's defence system | Shubhanshu Shukla returns to Earth after his 18-day mission to space | India's Got Latent host Samay Raina, other influencers appear in SC over remarks mocking disabled

Bumper year for whisky tourism toasted at Ryder Cup

| | Sep 26, 2014, at 09:32 pm
Edinburgh, Sept 26 (Not in Town/IBNS) The growing importance of two of Scotland's biggest global icons whisky and golf to the country's tourism industry has been highlighted at The 2014 Ryder Cup.

Diageo, the world’s leading premium drinks business, has reported a record year for its 12 distillery visitor centres, with 326,372 people flocking to the attractions between June 2013 and June 2014 – a 14 per cent increase on the previous 12-month period.

Since 2008, when there were 176,471 visits, the numbers have increased by 85 per cent.

Mike Cantlay, Chairman of VisitScotland, was at Diageo’s Johnnie Walker Experience at Gleneagles on Sept 24 to toast the growing popularity of whisky tourism and its strong ties with golf.

He said: “As Scotland’s national drink, whisky is one of our most iconic offerings, as well as one of our most valuable exports. Like golf, its appeal draws visitors from across the world, as these impressive figures from Diageo’s visitor centres clearly demonstrate. The 2014 Ryder Cup is one of the biggest sporting events ever held in Scotland, and is therefore the perfect stage to raise a glass to the growing popularity of whisky tourism.

“Next year is the Year of Food and Drink, a celebration of Scotland’s natural larder and the role it plays in shaping our economic success.   I look forward to seeing even more Scots and visitors to Scotland experiencing our country’s exciting and diverse culinary experiences, further enhancing Scotland’s reputation as a Land of Food and Drink.”

Peter Lederer, Director of Diageo in Scotland and Chairman of Gleneagles Hotel, said the growing popularity of Scotch whisky combined with the high quality of visitor experience offered at the distilleries were the key factors in their increasing success.

He said: “Of all the great gifts that Scotland has given to the world, whisky and golf are two of the greatest.

“It’s fantastic that we’ve seen another year of fantastic growth in the number of visitors our distilleries are attracting and with the Ryder Cup we can see that golf is having the same effect.

“The impact of whisky and golf tourism on the economy of Scotland is fantastic, with many of our visitors spending time and money in the communities around our distilleries and golf courses across Scotland.     

“Scotch whisky is experiencing remarkable success around the world, with people in over 180 countries enjoying the leading brands we produce here in Scotland. That growth is still strong in countries in Asia and Latin America and we are now starting to see a knock-on growth in the tourism we are seeing from these markets.

“People in countries like China and Brazil are attracted to Scotch because of its reputation for provenance, heritage and authenticity. Scotch is the best advert possible for Scotland and customers who enjoy our whisky brands are increasingly attracted to visit the home of Scotch.
“I believe that Ryder Cup is generating a similar tourism impact and legacy for Scotland.”

Support Our Journalism

We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism

IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.

Support objective journalism for a small contribution.