Edinburgh’s Christmas festival drew nearly a million visitors last year and generated around £113 million for the economy, analysis has found.

Attractions including the Christmas markets and ice rink received 919,344 individual visitors over six weeks in 2017, with total footfall estimated at 4.6 million.

Almost two-thirds (65%) came from outside Edinburgh, with 7% of visitors hailing from overseas.

  • 919, 344 visitors to Edinburgh's Christmas in 2017
  • 4.6 million total footfall
  • 771,007 tickets sold for attractions, rides and shows

Event producers Underbelly said 771,007 tickets were sold for Edinburgh’s Christmas attractions, rides and shows – up 11.6% on the previous year.Some 98% of people surveyed rated the quality of their experience as very good or good.

The entertainment company commissioned BOP Consulting to carry out the analysis.

Charlie Wood and Ed Bartlam, directors of Underbelly, said: “We’re very proud that Edinburgh’s Christmas is now firmly on the map as a global winter destination with sky-high levels of customer satisfaction and return visits, and visitors who consistently rate the event as their major reason for coming to Edinburgh.”

Edinburgh Lord Provost Frank Ross said: “There is no better place in the world to celebrate Christmas than here in Edinburgh and this report highlights just how valuable the attractions are to the city.

“These findings are clearly good news for our city-centre retailers and other businesses, for local jobs and for the wider economy.”