Tourism generated £336 million for Dundee’s economy in 2025
Tourism generated an impressive £336 million for Dundee’s economy in 2025, with more than 1.3 million people visiting the city, according to newly released figures.
The latest statistics from the Scottish Tourism Economic Activity Monitor (STEAM) highlight the continued importance of tourism to Dundee’s economy, with the sector supporting 3,601 full-time equivalent jobs across the city, a slight increase compared with the previous year.
Although visitor numbers fell by 3% compared with 2024, Dundee welcomed 12% more visitors than in 2019, demonstrating the city’s continued growth as a visitor destination compared with pre-pandemic levels.
Dundee’s tourism ambitions continue to grow
The figures come as Dundee continues working towards its ambition of becoming Europe’s best emerging city break destination by 2030, with the Dundee Tourism Leadership Group coordinating a five-year strategy through the Dundee Partnership.
The strategy aims to build on Dundee’s existing strengths as a cultural and visitor destination, while encouraging more people to discover the city’s attractions, heritage, events, hospitality and creative industries.
Councillor Steven Rome, Dundee City Council’s convener of City Growth and Infrastructure, welcomed the figures while emphasising the importance of maintaining momentum.
“These figures show why we cannot be complacent, and we must all work hard to keep the momentum up,” he said. “Partners in Dundee are making efforts to build on the many qualities that already make Dundee a great place to visit and stay.”
Challenges remain for Dundee’s visitor economy
Despite the encouraging economic contribution, tourism leaders have acknowledged the pressures facing businesses, including rising operating costs and the impact of the cost of living on visitor spending.
Caroline Warburton, Chair of the Dundee Tourism Leadership Group and Destination Development Director at VisitScotland, said tourism and events have become an essential part of Dundee’s economy, supporting jobs, businesses and investment across the city.
She added: “It is evident to the Tourism Leadership Group that it is a challenging time for tourism businesses, with rising costs and the cost of living affecting revenue and spend.”
With tourism continuing to contribute hundreds of millions of pounds to the local economy and visitor numbers remaining above pre-pandemic levels, the latest figures underline the importance of Dundee’s visitor economy as the city looks towards its ambitions for 2030.
