One of the most famous “inhabitants” of Scotland is a mythical creature, the Loch Ness monster, also known as Nessie. Although its existence has never been proven, it is very real in a way: the creature has been making lots of money for Scottish tourism for many decades. So much so that its economic impact can be compared to the entire GDP of some dwarf country.
The Loch Ness Monster, better known as Nessie, is supposed to live in Loch Ness near the city of Inverness in Scotland. The origin of the legend goes back nearly 1,500 years. But Nessie’s influence can be clearly traced in the local society and economy starting in the 1930s.
As already detailed by Origo, the cultural history of the Loch Ness Beast contains a large and easily accessible literature. The legend of the lake monster probably dates back to antiquity, the first documented sighting, to put it mildly, although doubtful about its authenticity, dates back to the year 565. According to the story, Saint Columba saved a man from a water monster. In 1368, the mysterious inhabitant of the lake was seen again.
Nessie’s modern career began in April 1933, when a couple spotted the huge monster from their car at the lake.
Several sightings have been reported up to this year, which caused quite a stir in the media. A photograph of the beast was also taken in 1934. This was later shown to be a fake, but at the time encouraged “eyewitnesses” to give their colorful accounts, and those who volunteered to hunt the beast – not between me and its protection – also to the hustle and bustle around it. The lake and its supposed inhabitants.
Nessie’s economic strength
It is not easy to calculate exactly how much economic and commercial power Nissi possessed. From tourist attractions to souvenirs and indirect hospitality revenues, it means huge sums of money for Scotland.
The most recent research to measure the effects comes from 2018, when Gary Campbell, an accountant who is a Nessie fan, experimented with to summarise The economic importance of the beast. Campbell found that Nessi contributes a total of £41 million (about HUF 17.5 billion at today’s exchange rate) to Scotland’s economy. This was £11m more than the previous estimate made in 2014.
Although tourism in Scotland has also fallen due to the coronavirus pandemic, it is very likely that post-pandemic openings have caused revenue related to Nessie to rise again, and may now exceed the amount estimated by Campbell in 2018.
Nessie’s economic importance is well illustrated by Campbell’s estimation of £41 million which is equivalent to $54 million US dollars in 2018. That is, in that year, It has surpassed Tuvalu’s GDP of Oceania, for example, by nearly $7 million, which is not a bad achievement for a mythical creature.
Although comprehensive post-pandemic summaries have not been prepared, it has already been noted that the UK is trying to increase the attractiveness of Lake and Nessie. In November 2017, the government announced that it would open up funds to boost tourism, after realizing the growing interest in the area. It was announced that around £2 million will be spent on various promotional and support activities to attract tourists to the Scottish Highlands and the city of Inverness. At the same time, an agreement was reached with Scottish Highland Cities on a £1 billion regional development package.
The lake is at least as private as the beast
Although the legend of Nissi is also attractive to tourists, the lake and its surrounding areas promise special experiences for the estimated 400,000 visitors annually.
the Loch Ness Because it is deeper than the height of the Great Pyramid of Giza. The 36-kilometer-long, 2.7-kilometer lake is 226 meters deep at its deepest point, compared to the 146-meter height of the Great Pyramid of Giza.
This makes Loch Ness the largest lake in the whole of the United Kingdom by water mass. However, in competition on water surfaces, only the second, Loch Lomond, leads in Scotland.
Another special feature of the lake with only one island is that It never freezes, even in the harshest Scottish winters. Water that is cooled by the air sinks, giving way to warmer water, so the surface of the water cannot freeze. This phenomenon is also due to the depth of the lake.
Therefore, the economic strength of Nessie for Scotland is unavoidable, but at the same time it is no coincidence that many tourists, though they visit the loch for it’s sake, stay longer because of the experiences and beauty that can actually be experienced.
