Scotland's pulling power weakens as visitors stick to London attractions

VISITOR Numbers at Scotland's flagship tourist attractions fell sharply last year by 10 per cent or more, figures released today reveal. Across the rest of Britain, numbers mostly held level, according to 2008 statistics from the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions, Alva.

The cost of fuel, miserable summer weather and the strength of the pound against the euro and dollar last year were all blamed for the decline in Scotland yesterday.

Tourists making shorter visits to Britain may be cutting back on days outside London, it was suggested.

The association said yesterday that across Britain there was "a general upward trend in people visiting top museums, galleries, heritage sites, cathedrals, gardens, zoos or leisure parks".

The Alva chief executive, Richard Broke, said: "It was pretty level over all, which is a good result in the economic climate that's prevailing. It came through in discussions that generally Scottish attractions are down."

Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum saw visitor numbers fall by 35 per cent, though they had surged after its reopening last year and the museum still claimed 1,445,098 visitors as Scotland's biggest attraction.

Edinburgh Castle's 8 per cent fall to 1,128,394 visitors appeared to be a serious decline, although it may mirror a 12 per cent fall in Fringe ticket sales last year.

Numbers visiting the National Galleries complex on the Mound in Edinburgh fell by 10 per cent to 842,958. The National Trust for Scotland's top attraction, Culzean Castle in South Ayrshire, was down 13 per cent to 156,108 visitors.

Also in Glasgow, the Gallery of Modern Art's numbers fell by 18 per cent, the Museum of Transport by 14 per cent, and the Burrell Collection by 5 per cent.

"There's a theory, with some evidence, that where in the past tourists came for a week, now they are only coming for four days, and there's so much in London that it's not that easy to get them out," said Mr Broke.

"People may have reduced the time. A ten-day holiday comes down to a week. London still is the gateway and there's great things to do there, a lot of them free."

With Homecoming Scotland under way, and the pound fallen sharply, he and others stressed a better year beckoned in 2009.

ALVA's members range from giants like the British Museum, with nearly six million visitors, to the Martyrs' School in Glasgow, which pulled in less than 2,500 last year.

Eva McDiarmid, chief executive of the Association of Scottish Visitor Attractions, said her group's Scottish figures showed only a 1.8 per cent decline across more than 200 attractions.

"We had a terrible summer. From June to September, it rained almost every day. We have to examine the facts properly and find out the real story. I don't think it's easy, but I don't think it's a crisis."

A spokesperson for VisitScotland said: "Early indications for 2009 are positive, with more favourable exchange rates and lower fuel prices. Homecoming Scotland gives us a great advantage this year and it got off to a great start with high levels of interest and sold-out events."

A spokeswoman for the National Galleries of Scotland said: "It is clear 2008 has been a challenging year for many major tourist attractions in Scotland."

The fall at the National Gallery complex reflected the huge success of the Andy Warhol exhibition in 2007, she said. The Vanity Fair exhibition also helped bring a 19 per cent increase at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery.

Kari Coghill, the head of visitor services at Historic Scotland, which runs Edinburgh and Stirling castles – the latter also saw visitors fall by 8 per cent – said: "Our attractions had record-breaking numbers in the past two financial years and in the current difficult conditions it is not surprising there have been some decreases."