Editing Orkney (section)

===Tourism===
[[File:Dig at the Ness of Brodgar in August 2018 c.jpg|thumb|Excavations by [[UHI Archaeology Institute]] at the Ness of Brodgar have contributed to Orkney's [[heritage tourism]].]]
A report published in February 2020 stated that spending by visitors increased from £49.5 million in 2017 to £67.1 million in 2019, making this a significant sector of the economy.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.visitscotland.org/news/2020/orkney-islands-visitor-survey-results |title=ORKNEY ISLANDS VISITOR SURVEY RESULTS |access-date=3 February 2021 |archive-date=18 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210818074325/https://www.visitscotland.org/news/2020/orkney-islands-visitor-survey-results |url-status=dead }}</ref> The primary attractions that encourage tourism include the "Heart of Neolithic Orkney" on the main island, defined as "a group of 5,000-year-old sites that include the preserved village of Skara Brae and the Ring of Brodgar stone circle". The Hoy area's landscape is also attractive to visitors, "with its scattered woodland, steep valleys, high cliffs and the famous Old Man, a withered red sandstone sea stack".<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.cntraveller.com/gallery/islands-scotland |title=THE 20 MOST BEAUTIFUL ISLANDS TO VISIT IN SCOTLAND |date=26 April 2020 |access-date=19 February 2021 |archive-date=15 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210215195710/https://www.cntraveller.com/gallery/islands-scotland |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2017, 62% of tourists to Orkney visited for its heritage. The [[UHI Archaeology Institute]] have led excavations at the Ness of Brodgar, contributing to tourism to the area and driving interest in archaeology.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Project Case Studies - Neolithic archaeology |url=https://www.uhi.ac.uk/en/research-enterprise/case-studies/neolithic-archaeology/ |access-date=2022-12-19 |website=www.uhi.ac.uk}}</ref>

During most years, the islands are the home of several international festivals, including the [[Orkney International Science Festival]] in September, a folk festival in May, and the [[St Magnus Festival|St Magnus International Arts Festival]] in June.<ref>[http://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/do-not-disturb-oakhurst-cottage-orkney-1-3414846 "Do not disturb: Oakhurst Cottage, Orkney"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150805160753/http://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/do-not-disturb-oakhurst-cottage-orkney-1-3414846 |date=5 August 2015 }}, ''The Scotsman'', 3 August 2015. Retrieved 3 August 2015.</ref>
 
The volume of visitors arriving on ferries declined substantially in 2020, by 71%, 
due to the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-55218561 |title=Covid in Scotland: NorthLink ferry passengers down 71% on last year 7 December 2020 |work=BBC News |date=7 December 2020 |access-date=3 February 2021 |archive-date=7 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210207213301/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-55218561 |url-status=live }}</ref> A news report added that cruise ships also did not arrive and there were "no day trippers and no holiday lets" as of 25 April 2020. Several major events were cancelled: St Magnus Festival, Orkney Folk Festival, Stromness Shopping Week and the Agricultural Shows.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://theorkneynews.scot/2020/04/25/why-the-tourism-sector-needs-to-change/ |title=Why The Tourism Sector Needs To Change 25 April 2020 |date=24 April 2020 |access-date=3 February 2021 |archive-date=10 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210210133805/https://theorkneynews.scot/2020/04/25/why-the-tourism-sector-needs-to-change/ |url-status=live }}</ref>