A new report published by VisitBritain UK reported that UK Attractions enjoyed an overall…
A new report published by VisitBritain UK reported that UK Attractions enjoyed an overall 8% increase in visitor numbers in 2002 – a positive picture compared to a 2% downturn in 2001.
The main trend according to the report, published on behalf of the four national tourist boards, reveals a leap in visits to farms, gardens and countryside attractions as tourism recovered from the Foot and Mouth outbreak in 2001.
Farm visits were up 50%, country parks up 13%, historic properties up 8% with attractions like Cannon Hall Open Farm in Cawthorne, South Yorkshire , visits were up by an estimated 250% and Bradgate Country Park in Leicestershire visits increased to 79%.
Attractions associated with royalty benefited throughout 2002, thanks to the huge publicity generated by the Golden Jubilee celebrations. Visits to Buckingham Palace rose by 7%, Windsor Castle up by 3% and Westminster Abbey received 7% more visitors with a total of 1,058, 854 for the year.
The survey also shows that the impact of free entry has helped to drive visits to museums and art galleries, particular in London, with places like the Science Museum visitor increase by 94% with 2.63 million and the Victoria and Albert Museum up 84% with 2.66 million visitors during 2002.
Many newer attractions have enjoyed consistent increase over the past few years. In 2002, British Airways London Eye received 4.09 million people, the Eden Project in Cornwall received 1.83 million visitors, Tate Modern Gallery in London received 4.62 million visitors (this was mainly due to the success of the Matisse, Picasso and Warhol exhibitions).
VisitBritain chief executive Tom Wright commented; We have some of the best attractions in the world and it is greatly encouraging to see that people have been out and about and enjoying what the attractions are offering. From the high profile new attractions to the smaller rural attractions, visitors to Britain have been dicovering excellent facilities in both countryside and urban destinations.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
