Tourism award for Britannia

Published on Wednesday 11 June 2003 01:00

ONE of Edinburgh’s newest tourist attractions has won second prize in a prestigious award for the best visitor attraction in the UK.

The Royal Yacht Britannia has been voted runner-up best attraction in the UK by the group travel industry.

The vessel was pipped into second place by the British Airways London Eye.

Britannia was the only visitor attraction in Scotland to be shortlisted in any of the six award categories in the prestigious Group Travel Organiser Magazine Awards.

Bob Downie, Britannia’s director, said: "For a visitor attraction in Scotland that has been trading for less than five years to become runner-up in the best in the UK category is absolutely fantastic news. We don’t nominate ourselves, so to be picked is great news for us especially as others included the Tower Bridge Experience."

He added: "We’ve worked incredibly hard in this time to achieve our ‘six star’ reputation and there is no doubt that our unique customer experience formula delivers outstanding results that benefit both our visitors and the business."

Britannia benefited from the recent International Festival of the Sea although turn-out figures were low.

"We did well from it, the rain didn’t help but people could use their ticket for half price admission on Britannia," said Mr Downie.

Recent customer research shows Britannia is now Scotland’s leading visitor-friendly attraction.

"Everyone talks tourism in Scotland down, but here we are celebrating being runner-up. I believe for us to get on the shortlist and come second is a great achievement," said Mr Downie.

Since opening in 1998, visitor numbers to Britannia have exceeded 300,000 per year.

It is now owned by a charitable trust and all profits go towards the ship’s long-term maintenance.