More than 1,500 new hotel rooms are needed in the area around Edinburgh Airport to cope with increasing visitor numbers, a report presented to the city council by city planners says.

The number of travellers passing through the airport is expected to rise from 8.9 million per year to 13 million by 2013, and 23 million by 2030.

The area needs 550 rooms by 2010, 1,000 more by 2013 and 2,100 more by 2030 to cope with demand, The Scotsman reports.

An airport spokeswoman says the need for additional hotels both on- and off-site, “is a key requirement to provide our growing number of passengers with a range of quality and choice”.

The report recommends an area south of the airport be used for high-quality development.

By staff writer