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THIS SUMMER`S VISITOR NUMBERS ARE 22.3% GREATER THAN THE SAME PERIOD IN 2012

13 August 2013: ASSOCIATION OF LEADING VISITOR
ATTRACTIONS (ALVA) ANNOUNCE THAT THIS
SUMMER`S VISITOR NUMBERS ARE 22.3%
GREATER THAN THE SAME PERIOD IN 2012
Following a survey by the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions (ALVA) for the Daily Telegraph (Saturday, August 10, 2013), they are pleased to announce that this summer?s visitor numbers are 22.3% greater than the same period in 2012, 18.3% higher than in 2011 and 21.2% higher than in 2010.

ALVA surveyed their 52 members - who are the UK's most popular, iconic and important museums, galleries, palaces, castles, cathedrals, zoos, historic houses, heritage sites, gardens and leisure attractions. They comprise over 2,000 tourist sites, hosting over 100 million domestic and overseas visitors each year - around 25% of the visits made annually in the UK.

During the period May 1st until August 5th, the results revealed that indoor and outdoor attractions have done well across the UK, with gardens, zoos and stately homes successfully reversing last year?s fall in numbers which was due to the wet weather. Blockbuster exhibitions in London have performed very successfully; ?David Bowie is..? at the V&A was in its final week (closed the weekend of August 11th), with all pre-booked tickets sold out and all day tickets sold by late morning, and ?Life and Death in Pompeii and Herculaneum? at the British Museum has been hugely popular too ? this finishes September 29th. London?s attractions, which were greatly affected by the Olympic displacement in July and August 2012, have received, on average, 26% more visitors this summer (so far) than in 2012.

Association of Leading Visitor Attractions
As Bernard Donoghue, Director of ALVA noted: ?Summer 2013 is proving to be one of the best for visitor attractions across the UKin recent years. The combination of great weather, Brits choosing to stay at home and enjoy their own country, a relatively weak pound against the Euro and therefore our attractiveness for visitors from Euro countries, is proving to be a recipe for success. There is also clear evidence across the UK that investing in refurbishing museums, galleries and heritage sites attracts records visitors and benefits local economies.?

Notable figures:
The Roman Baths visitor numbers were +16% up on last year in the period (May 1st to August 5th). They were +6% on 2011 (a bumper year) and up +17% on 2010 visitor numbers.
St Paul's Cathedral had 353, 463 visitors between May 1st - August 5th (up 47.5% on 2012; up 21.1% on 2011; up 26.2% on 2010)

For further information on ALVA and to download images, please visit www.alva.org.uk | Twitter @alva_uk

For further Press Information and to arrange interviews, please contact
Rachel Aked
[email protected]
Tel: 07790 732448

NOTES TO EDITORS:
The members of ALVA are the UK's most popular, iconic and important museums, galleries, palaces, castles, cathedrals, zoos, historic houses, heritage sites, gardens and leisure attractions. The 52 members manage some nearly 2,000 tourist sites and welcome over 100 million domestic and overseas visitors each year; some 25% of the visits made annually in the United Kingdom. To qualify for membership, the attractions must host over a million visitors per year at their singly or centrally-managed sites.
August 2013