MORE overseas visitors than ever before will come to the UK next year, VisitBritain claims – with Scotland set to shine.

The holiday body says 2020 will be a “record year”. Its forecasts suggest spending by overseas visitors will reach £26.6 billion in 2020, a 6.6% increase on spending in 2019.

The prediction comes just days after the general election result, which has put the UK on course for a speedy Brexit.

The number of overseas visits to the UK is forecast to rise in 2020 to 39.7 million, the highest ever and an increase of 2.9% on this year.

The agency is targeting a number of overseas markets, with images of Loch Ness targeted at audiences in France. It is also working with the tourism industry “to inform European visitors about the practicalities of travel and to encourage visits post-Brexit”.

VisitBritain director Patricia Yates said: “Tourism is one of the UK’s most valuable export industries and these results show our continued ability to attract international visitors in a fiercely competitive global market.

"We are seeing success in growing tourism from our long-haul, high-spending markets including the US, our largest and most valuable inbound market, and from markets that are crucial for our future such as China.

“Working with partners globally we are telling customers about experiences they can only have here, converting the inspiration to visit into bookings and driving growth from tourism across the nations and regions, boosting local economies.”

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VisitScotland says more UK residents are now holidaying here, with 5.5m overnight holiday trips from this group in Scotland between January and August, making £1.5b for the Scottish economy. Edinburgh & Lothians, Highlands & Islands and Perthshire were among the most popular regions during that period.

Chris Greenwood of VisitScotland said: “It is hugely encouraging to see so many more Scots exploring what is right here on their doorstep.

“Brexit uncertainty and fluctuations in currency have no doubt been contributing factors for holidaymakers.”