As Edinburgh prepares to take centre stage this August again, KAYAK, the world’s leading travel search engine, has released new data highlighting how the city’s signature festivals and events are impacting inbound travel.
Flight prices stayed steady amid increasing inbound travel and a buzz around a legendary Britpop reunion
With the Fringe, Edinburgh International Festival (EIF), and headline concerts like the Oasis reunion attracting global attention, KAYAK data shows an 8% increase in flight searches to Edinburgh compared to August last year, and a 26% increase compared to the month prior.
Despite that upward trend, the average return airfare is actually down 2% month-on-month and year-on-year, offering welcome news for travellers still planning a last minute trip.
International flight searches from Italy, Austria, and Spain top the list of traveller origin countries looking for flights to Edinburgh this August, with Switzerland (+14%), Spain (+11%) and Austria (+9%) showing the biggest year-on-year increases within the Top 10.
Hotel rates rise with the event calendar
Hotel pricing paints a different picture, with average nightly rates up 17% year-on-year and 38% month-on-month to £232. Prices peak in early August, particularly around high-demand dates tied to headline acts like the Oasis concerts, but KAYAK notes late month stays offer great value. During the final week of the festival the average hotel prices drop to £187 per night, representing potential savings of up to 34% compared to peak dates.
“August brings an added sense of occasion to Edinburgh, while the city’s charm hardly fades during the rest of the year. While it’s no surprise that travel searches are up in that month, it’s encouraging to see there are still affordable options, especially for flexible travellers who can adjust their dates or travel later in the month.” says Rachel Mumford, KAYAK’s travel expert.
