All looks rosy for Botanics as visitor numbers sprout

A total of 707,244 visits were recorded last year, compared with 581,358 in 2009 - an increase of more than 21 per cent - according to figures from the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions (Alva).

The Botanics attributed the 21.7 per cent rise to a combination of the addition of the John Hope Gateway, which opened in October 2009, and a "richer programme of activities".

Meanwhile, Edinburgh Castle was confirmed as Scotland's number one stand-alone visitor attraction.

The Castle saw 1,210,248 people cross its threshold in 2010, the highest number of visitors to a single paid or free visitor attraction in Scotland, according to the figures released today by Alva.

There was a 12 per cent increase in visitors to the Castle in September last year alone.

Culture Minister Fiona Hyslop said: "The fact that the Castle has sustained its numbers in the face of two unprecedented events - the ash cloud at the beginning of the year and the extreme weather at the end of the year, and on the back of a very strong season the year before - illustrates the enduring appeal of the Castle as a brand and the hard work of staff to provide a world-class visitor experience."

She added: "The Castle is a Scottish icon with a strong global pull and identity, but it's important that we continue to evolve our offering to attract a new generation of visitors."

Alan Bennell, head of visitor services at RBGE, said he was "delighted" with the increase in visits between January and December 2009, and the same period last year.

He said: "It's down to a combination of the existence of a proper welcome to the garden, of which the best evidence is the John Hope Gateway which has definitely kicked us up a gear, and off the back of that we have invested significantly in our promotion and marketing work for the garden and an ever richer programme of activities."

The John Hope Gateway is a 16 million visitor centre at the Botanics which offers educational and catering facilities on a scale never before seen at the visitor attraction.

Mr Bennell added: "We are one of the world's greatest gardens and our challenge is to keep people coming. We are very excited about 2011."

The Alva figures also showed that the National Galleries of Scotland recorded a 10.18 per cent rise in visits over the last year to 1,281,465, while the National Museum of Scotland was visited 619,254 times in 2010 - an increase of five per cent on 2009.

The National War Museum received 528,776 visits last year, which was up seven per cent on 2009.