Scotland's heritage delivers benefits far beyond tourism, new evidence shows

Scotland's Historic Environment Audit 2026 highlights the contribution Scotland's historic environment makes to the economy, communities, wellbeing and sustainable places.

Historic Environment Scotland (HES) has today published Scotland's Historic Environment Audit (SHEA) 2026. The release brings together the latest evidence on Scotland's historic environment and provides insight into how it is changing, the benefits it delivers, and the challenges it faces.

Scotland's historic environment is much more than the castles and monuments that shape our skylines. Across the country there are more than 55,000 protected historic places, thousands of traditional buildings, archaeological sites, museums, archives and community organisations, supported by the people whose skills, expertise and commitment help care for them. The evidence published today demonstrates the significant role heritage continues to play in Scotland's economy, communities and everyday life.

First published in 2007, SHEA is Scotland's national evidence base for the historic environment, tracking long-term trends across the sector. Data published in SHEA 2026 shows that Scotland's historic environment contributed £6.1 billion to the economy in 2024 and supported approximately 84,700 full-time equivalent jobs. While heritage tourism generated around £2.3 billion, a larger share of economic activity, £3.8 billion, came from the repair and maintenance of traditional buildings and the supply chains that support that work.

The audit also estimates 17 million visits to Scotland's historic environment in 2025 and highlights strong public support for heritage as well as its benefits to wellbeing, with 86% of people agreeing that Scotland's heritage should be well looked after.

The figures and trends underline the importance of the historic environment as an economic asset, supporting professions from architects and surveyors to specialist contractors, craftspeople and conservation professionals whose expertise helps sustain homes, businesses and communities across Scotland.

The report also identifies and tracks important long-term challenges. Traditional buildings remain vulnerable to disrepair and climate impacts, while ongoing investment, specialist skills and maintenance will be required to ensure the sector continues to deliver benefits for future generations.

Stephen Uphill, Chief Executive of Historic Environment Scotland, said:

"Scotland's historic environment contributes far more than many people realise. It supports jobs and investment, provides homes and workplaces, strengthens communities, and contributes to wellbeing.

"The evidence published today demonstrates that heritage continues to play an important role in everyday life across Scotland, while helping us understand the challenges and opportunities facing the historic environment in the years ahead.

"Good decisions depend on good evidence. By bringing together data and trends from across the sector, SHEA helps inform policy, investment and action to ensure Scotland's historic environment continues to benefit people and places across the country."

Culture Cabinet Secretary Màiri McAllan said:

"These reports highlight the wide-reaching impact of our historic environment, both within Scotland and for visitors from across the world. Our historic environment is more than a record of our past. It is a living, flourishing asset that shapes identity, place and belonging, and provides employment.

“Scotland's historic environment sits firmly within our wider national priorities, including our Programme for Government 2026-2031, and is integral to our economic wellbeing, environmental responsibilities and social cohesion.

“I recognise the challenges facing traditional buildings, from rising maintenance costs and skills shortages to the impacts of climate change. I am committed to working across government to ensure our historic environment remains at the heart of our national identity for current and future generations."

Download SHEA 2026

Scotland's Historic Environment Audit (SHEA) is the national evidence base for Scotland's historic environment. First published in 2007, it brings together data and trend information from across the sector to provide a picture of the state of Scotland's historic environment and how it is changing over time.

Published every two years, SHEA includes information on Scotland's protected places, traditional buildings, economic contribution, public engagement, volunteering, skills, wellbeing and climate resilience.

SHEA is used by policymakers, researchers, funders, heritage organisations and communities to support decision making, policy development, advocacy and investment. It remains the only national resource bringing together long-term evidence on Scotland's historic environment, enabling trends to be tracked across nearly two decades of reporting.

We're the lead body for Scotland’s historic environment, a charity dedicated to the advancement of heritage, culture, education and environmental protection. We are at the forefront of researching and understanding the historic environment and addressing the impacts of climate change on its future. Across Scotland, we investigate and record architectural and archaeological sites and landscapes and care for more than 300 properties of national importance. HES is also working with sector partners to deliver Scotland's strategy for the historic environment, Our Past, Our Future.

Historic Scotland, trove.scot, The National Collection of Aerial Photography (NCAP), The Engine Shed, Stirling Castle, Edinburgh Castle and Stòr are sub-brands of HES.

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