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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| UK tourism: Visitor attractions still suffering from pandemic effects | UK tourism: Visitor attractions still suffering from pandemic effects |
| (3 months later) | |
| Indoor attractions like the Natural History Museum saw a strong recovery in 2022 | Indoor attractions like the Natural History Museum saw a strong recovery in 2022 |
| UK visitor attractions are suffering from the effects of the pandemic due to fewer tourists travelling from abroad, an industry body has warned. | UK visitor attractions are suffering from the effects of the pandemic due to fewer tourists travelling from abroad, an industry body has warned. |
| Millions returned to museums and galleries in 2022 as Covid restrictions ended, the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions (ALVA) said. | Millions returned to museums and galleries in 2022 as Covid restrictions ended, the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions (ALVA) said. |
| But fewer international tourists meant visitor levels were still almost a quarter lower than before the pandemic. | But fewer international tourists meant visitor levels were still almost a quarter lower than before the pandemic. |
| The Crown Estate, Windsor Great Park, remained the most popular attraction. | The Crown Estate, Windsor Great Park, remained the most popular attraction. |
| Indoor sites saw a 176% increase in the number of people visiting compared to the previous year, ALVA said. | Indoor sites saw a 176% increase in the number of people visiting compared to the previous year, ALVA said. |
| For much of 2021 facemasks and social distancing had been required at inside venues to prevent the spread of coronavirus. | For much of 2021 facemasks and social distancing had been required at inside venues to prevent the spread of coronavirus. |
| Big London attractions with no entry fee like the Natural History Museum, British Museum and Tate Modern saw their numbers recover by around 200%. | Big London attractions with no entry fee like the Natural History Museum, British Museum and Tate Modern saw their numbers recover by around 200%. |
| Overall visits to British attractions increased 69% compared to 2021, but they saw 37.8 million fewer people walk through their doors than in 2019. | Overall visits to British attractions increased 69% compared to 2021, but they saw 37.8 million fewer people walk through their doors than in 2019. |
| ALVA, which represents more than 2,200 sites, puts the 23% shortfall down to lower levels of tourism, especially from China and east Asia. | ALVA, which represents more than 2,200 sites, puts the 23% shortfall down to lower levels of tourism, especially from China and east Asia. |
| The Crown Estate, Windsor Great Park, was the most visited UK attraction in 2022 - the year of Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee and death | The Crown Estate, Windsor Great Park, was the most visited UK attraction in 2022 - the year of Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee and death |
| The top 10 list was dominated by London attractions, including the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square | The top 10 list was dominated by London attractions, including the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square |
| The Tower of London was the most visited major attraction with an entry fee in 2022 | The Tower of London was the most visited major attraction with an entry fee in 2022 |
| Despite a very busy Christmas period, Bernard Donoghue, director of ALVA, warned the industry was "still experiencing the tourism equivalent of 'long Covid'" because of fewer holidaymakers coming to the UK. | Despite a very busy Christmas period, Bernard Donoghue, director of ALVA, warned the industry was "still experiencing the tourism equivalent of 'long Covid'" because of fewer holidaymakers coming to the UK. |
| He later apologised for making the 'inappropriate' comparison after receiving complaints from long Covid advocacy campaigners. | He later apologised for making the 'inappropriate' comparison after receiving complaints from long Covid advocacy campaigners. |
| Although there are ongoing challenges, he said he was "confident that [tourists] will return this year and we will see a continuing healthy recovery". | Although there are ongoing challenges, he said he was "confident that [tourists] will return this year and we will see a continuing healthy recovery". |
| The figures also reveal people are opting for attractions which are free amid the cost-of-living crisis: places which charged an entry fee saw a recovery of 101% - but free sites had a 183% increase. | The figures also reveal people are opting for attractions which are free amid the cost-of-living crisis: places which charged an entry fee saw a recovery of 101% - but free sites had a 183% increase. |
| Mr Donoghue also said rail strikes had impacted people visiting theatres - particularly over Christmas. | Mr Donoghue also said rail strikes had impacted people visiting theatres - particularly over Christmas. |
| He added he was confident the Chinese market would come back in 2023, driving "really strong growth". | He added he was confident the Chinese market would come back in 2023, driving "really strong growth". |
| London dominated the top ten list but popular spots around the UK saw growth. | London dominated the top ten list but popular spots around the UK saw growth. |
| In Scotland, the most popular attraction was the National Museum in Edinburgh. In Northern Ireland, it was Titanic Belfast and in Wales it was Bodnant Garden in Conwy. | In Scotland, the most popular attraction was the National Museum in Edinburgh. In Northern Ireland, it was Titanic Belfast and in Wales it was Bodnant Garden in Conwy. |
| The top 10 UK visitor attractions 2022 | The top 10 UK visitor attractions 2022 |
| 1. The Crown Estate, Windsor Great Park, Berkshire - 5,636,844 | 1. The Crown Estate, Windsor Great Park, Berkshire - 5,636,844 |
| 2. Natural History Museum (South Kensington)- 4,654,608 | 2. Natural History Museum (South Kensington)- 4,654,608 |
| 3. The British Museum - 4,097,253 | 3. The British Museum - 4,097,253 |
| 4. Tate Modern - 3,883,160 | 4. Tate Modern - 3,883,160 |
| 5. Southbank Centre - 2,947,155 | 5. Southbank Centre - 2,947,155 |
| 6. The National Gallery - 2,727,119 | 6. The National Gallery - 2,727,119 |
| 7. V&A South Kensington - 2,370,261 | 7. V&A South Kensington - 2,370,261 |
| 8. Somerset House - 2,346,580 | 8. Somerset House - 2,346,580 |
| 9. Science Museum - 2,334,930 | 9. Science Museum - 2,334,930 |
| 10. Tower of London - 2,020,121 | 10. Tower of London - 2,020,121 |
| The BBC changed the headline of this article after Mr Donoghue retracted his comparison between the state of the industry and long Covid. | The BBC changed the headline of this article after Mr Donoghue retracted his comparison between the state of the industry and long Covid. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Tourism | Tourism |
| Tate Modern | Tate Modern |
| Windsor | Windsor |
| London | London |
| Natural History Museum | Natural History Museum |
| Museums | Museums |
| Windsor Castle | Windsor Castle |
| Victoria and Albert Museum | Victoria and Albert Museum |
| British Museum | British Museum |