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Visitor numbers fall at UK attractions after terrorist attacks Visitor numbers fall at UK attractions after terrorist attacks
(about 5 hours later)
Visitors are staying away from some of the UK’s biggest attractions after the recent terrorist attacks in London and Manchester, according to the company behind London Eye and Madame Tussauds.Visitors are staying away from some of the UK’s biggest attractions after the recent terrorist attacks in London and Manchester, according to the company behind London Eye and Madame Tussauds.
Merlin Entertainments said demand for day trips fell among domestic tourists after the Westminster attack on 22 March, and deteriorated further after the subsequent attacks in Manchester and at London Bridge.Merlin Entertainments said demand for day trips fell among domestic tourists after the Westminster attack on 22 March, and deteriorated further after the subsequent attacks in Manchester and at London Bridge.
Europe’s biggest attractions group – which runs Sea Life centres, Alton Towers and Legoland resorts – said the attacks could have a knock-on effect on demand from foreign tourists in the coming months. Europe’s biggest attractions group, which runs Sea Life centres, Alton Towers and Legoland resorts, said the attacks could have a knock-on effect on demand from foreign tourists in the coming months.
“The impact of recent terror attacks on our London attractions is unclear at this stage,” said Nick Varney, Merlin’s chief executive.“The impact of recent terror attacks on our London attractions is unclear at this stage,” said Nick Varney, Merlin’s chief executive.
“What is clear, however, is that London has bounced back before and will do again. I have every confidence in the longer term resilience and growth trajectory of the market. London is very much open for business, welcoming visitors from the UK and from around the world to this exciting and vibrant city.” “What is clear, however, is that London has bounced back before and will do again. I have every confidence in the longer term resilience and growth trajectory of the market. London is very much open for business, welcoming visitors from the UK and around the world to this exciting and vibrant city.”
Trading at Legoland was in line with expectations, Merlin said in a update for the year so far, but there was a drop in visitors to a number of its parks as people were apparently put off by the attacks and heightened security at venues.Trading at Legoland was in line with expectations, Merlin said in a update for the year so far, but there was a drop in visitors to a number of its parks as people were apparently put off by the attacks and heightened security at venues.
Merlin shares were the biggest faller in early trading on Tuesday, down 3.5%. Merlin shares were the biggest faller in the FTSE 100 in early trading on Tuesday, down 3.5%, although they later recovered slightly to 1.5% down.
Neil Wilson, a senior market analyst at ETX Capital, said: “Merlin had already warned in March that the threat of terror attacks had hit its UK business, citing events in Paris and Brussels as having an impact. This was before the Westminster attack on 22 March, meaning the impact on the UK business is likely to be significantly greater in 2017 than it was last year.”
Business at Merlin’s London attractions had improved in the early part of 2017, as foreign visitors took advantage of the weaker pound.Business at Merlin’s London attractions had improved in the early part of 2017, as foreign visitors took advantage of the weaker pound.
Overall, the group said, trading in the year so far had been “broadly in line with expectations”. Merlin is expanding internationally and Legoland Japan opened on 1 April. A Sea Life centre in Chongqing, China, is due to open on 15 June and Little Big City is expected to open in Berlin in July. Laura Citron, the chief executive of the London and Partners, the agency that runs visitlondon.com, said she was hopeful that tourists would continue to come to the capital.
“We are in constant communication with tourism partners across London and we continue to monitor data sources tracking inbound visitor numbers,” she said. “It’s impossible to predict what impact recent events may have on the tourism sector, but anecdotally we are not seeing a wave of cancellations.
“Londoners and visitors are resilient and we are confident that tourists will stand by the city. London is very much open for business and tourists have never been more important and welcome in London.”
Overall, Merlin said, trading in the year so far had been “broadly in line with expectations”. The group is expanding internationally and Legoland Japan opened on 1 April. A Sea Life centre in Chongqing, China, is scheduled to open on 15 June and Little Big City is expected to open in Berlin in July.
Varney said: “Merlin has a diverse portfolio of global brands with more than 70% of 2016 profits from outside the UK, and this proportion will only grow over time as we continue to invest internationally. I remain confident in the company’s underlying growth prospects.”Varney said: “Merlin has a diverse portfolio of global brands with more than 70% of 2016 profits from outside the UK, and this proportion will only grow over time as we continue to invest internationally. I remain confident in the company’s underlying growth prospects.”
The company will publish its results for the first half of this year on 4 August.