The number of tourists visiting the Outer Hebrides in the north west of Scotland has increased dramatically in recent years.

According to research commissioned by local enterprise company HIE Innse Gall, the annual number of visitors to the islands has increased by around nine per cent since 2002. In 2006 alone this amounted to 195,000 visitors.

Donnie MacAulay, area director for HIE, said: “The Outer Hebrides is a region of outstanding natural beauty and we have an exceptionally rich heritage with a dynamic culture which embraces festivals, sports, walking and wildlife.

The boost in visitor numbers has resulted in a significant rise in tourism spending, from £39m in 2002 to £49 million in 2006, representing a 27 per cent increase.

Angus Macmillan, area director of partner tourism organisation VisitScotland Outer Hebrides, added: “The results help us understand how we can work towards achieving the national target to increase tourism revenues by 50 per cent by 2015.”