EVIDENCE that tourism in the region has been significantly boosted by the coming of the Borders Railway in September, 2015, was presented to councillors yesterday (Tuesday).

New data, comparing the first six months of 2016 to the pre-railway corresponding period of the previous year, reveals that visitor days in the Borders increased by 17 per cent.

Over the same period, visitor spend in the region rose by 16 per cent and employment related to tourism was up by 8 per cent.

The data comes from the Scottish Tourism Economic Assessment Monitor (STEAM) – a modelling process commissioned by Scottish Borders Council for over a decade.

The system uses an analysis of a range of inputs, including visitor attraction numbers, tourist accommodation bedstock and occupancy rates, events attendance and transport use levels.

A breakdown of the new figures, presented in a report to SBC’s executive committee, shows that visitor spend on food and drink increased by 20% and on accommodation by 17 per cent.

And visitor days in hotels and B&Bs were 27 per cent higher than in the first six months of 2015.

“Every tracked category shows positive growth,” stated the report from Bryan McGrath, SBC’s chief officer for economic development.

“These increases have been benchmarked against other areas of Scotland over the same period…and the Borders has the most improved results.”

Regarding the validity of the figures, the report says the STEAM model is “well-recognised” and has been adopted across the UK and overseas.

“The rise in tourism activity in the Borders, both in terms of numbers and economic impact, is substantial, not only when compared to the corresponding six months of the previous year, but also when compared to other local authority areas in Scotland,” stated the report.

“Global Tourism Solutions, which produces the STEAM data, believes the most likely source of this rise in tourism activity, given the timeframe, is the positive impact of the Borders Railway and its role in bring staying visitors and day trippers to the area.”

While welcoming the boost to a tourism sector which already supports around 4,000 jobs and has an annual estimated economic impact of £194m, the report urged more local businesses to use the website of VisitScotland – the national agency which receives £108,000 a year from SBC’s economic development budget.

“It is clear some tourism businesses are missing out on valuable opportunities to market and promote themselves through the VisitScotland.com website…which has a high number of visits and helps provide an international profile.

“In the fast changing digital economy, every tourism business needs to have the strongest possible web presence if it is to successfully reach out to all its potential customers.”

Mr McGrath’s report also commended VisitScotland’s Growth Fund which offers grants of between £10,000 and £40,000 to help businesses build their digital capability but for which there has been no uptake in the Borders since 2010.

He said the council would actively work with Business Gateway and the Scottish Borders Tourism Partnership to encourage more businesses and groups of businesses to access these and other opportunities.