A campaign to encourage more people to go on a sailing holiday in Scotland has boosted the country’s economy by £1.3 million.

Business and Tourism Minister Fergus Ewing said Sail Scotland - the national marketing organisation for sailing tourism - had generated the extra income following a grant from the VisitScotland Growth Fund last year.

The organisation received the £22,500 award from VisitScotland to allow it to extend its reach in the global market by exhibiting at a number of major international boat shows including in Dusseldorf, Gothenburg, Lillestrom and Wales.

The year-long marketing push is estimated to have generated an additional 8,519 visitor boat nights from key target markets, delivering £1,320,445 of additional expenditure into the Scottish economy.

This exceeded the target of the campaign by nearly 150 boat nights.

Speaking at Scotland’s Boat Show at Kip Marina, Inverkip, Mr Ewing said: “Marine tourism makes an important contribution to Scotland’s economy.

"Boating is a great activity for everyone, regardless of age, circumstance or ability, helping people realise their true potential.

"Scotland provides so many opportunities for marine leisure and I would encourage everyone to try it.”

Gavin McDonagh, chairman of Sail Scotland, said: “Over the past year we have delivered one of the most ambitious marketing plans in our history, bringing new visitors to our waters from across Europe and cementing Scotland’s place as a world-class sailing destination.”

Scotland was last month named "World’s Best Cruising Ground" in the Sailing Today Awards.

Mike Cantlay, chairman of VisitScotland, said: “With thousands of miles of stunning coastline and hundreds of islands just crying out to be explored, Scotland really is the perfect destination for a sailing holiday."

he ambition is to increase the value of marine tourism from £360m to £450m and increase sailing tourism from £101m to £145m by 2020.