The Glasgow Commonwealth Games will offer an “unprecedented opportunity” for tourism, attracting thousands of new visitors to the city and Scotland, officials have said.
A fifth of people who have tickets for the games have never visited Glasgow, while more than half know little or nothing about the city, a new study conducted by Glasgow 2014 found.
Of those planning to travel to other parts of Scotland during their visit, almost a third said they would head up to the Highlands and Skye.
Many plan to stay a few nights in Glasgow, with nearly half planning a short break of two to four nights and almost a third intending to stay five nights or more.
One in 10 intend to combine their visit to Glasgow with a longer trip to Scotland to explore other parts of the country.
The study of almost 10,000 prospective spectators asked them about their travel, accommodation and visitor plans.
VisitScotland chairman Mike Cantlay said: “The Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games offers an unprecedented opportunity for tourism. It is Glasgow and Scotland’s chance to shine on the world stage like never before.
“We look forward to helping spectators make the most of their time in Glasgow and farther afield, offering them advice and information on all the fascinating things to see and do during their time here.
“It’s great to see that so many visitors are also taking the time to explore other parts of the country too. From the rich history of Edinburgh and Stirling to the breathtaking beauty of the Highlands and islands, Scotland has something to suit all tastes.”
The study found the vast majority of spectators will be attending from outside Glasgow, with just 30% of ticket-holders using their home as a base from which to attend the games.
For those planning to combine their trip to the sporting event with visiting other parts of Scotland, Edinburgh is the top attraction, with 40% saying they are considering or intending to visit the city.
Almost a third said they would travel north to the Highlands and Skye, while a quarter preferred to stay closer to Glasgow, travelling to Stirling, Loch Lomond and The Trossachs.
Glasgow 2014 chief executive David Grevemberg said: “The Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games is the biggest sporting and cultural event ever to come to Scotland and will put the city and the country on the world stage.”