More people visit North beauty spots
Oct 9 2008 by Dan Warburton, The Journal
SOME of the North East’s most famous visitor attractions have racked-up their best ever visitor numbers, figures revealed yesterday.
Visits to attractions in the North East were up 3% during 2007, with Northumberland sites boasting the biggest increases.
During 2006 Belsay Hall Castle and Gardens, in Belsay Village, near Ponteland, registered 62,058 people though their gates, but in the following 12 months that rose to 83,575.
That marks a 35% increase on the number of people flooding to visit the medieval castle and 30-acres of Grade I listed gardens.
It is among a host of visitor attractions in the region that defied the economic downturn and wet summer to attract more than two-and-a-half million people in 2007.
An English Heritage spokesman said: “We are delighted that so many people enjoyed Belsay last year.
“As the north of England and the rest of the country enters more difficult times, it’s great to see that there is a real taste for such beautiful attractions which are on people’s doorsteps.”
Cragside in Northumberland reopened in April last year after being closed for 18 months, during which time its 60-year-old electrics were replaced.
During 2006 the home of Lord Armstrong welcomed 112,000 people into the 100,000-acre estate.
But in the following 12 months the historic house and gardens, which are situated near Rothbury, welcomed 201,873 visitors through their gates – 80% more than the previous year.
Yesterday Justine James, Cragside’s visitor services manager, said: “We were absolutely thrilled to bits with the figures. 2007 was a bumper year and part of that is down to the fact that we have a lot for people to do here.
“We’ve had a more regular year this year – I think it’s 160,000 visitors to date – but next year we are expecting more because we are opening the iron bridge after 30 years.”
The Alnwick Garden remains the region’s most visited paid for attraction in 2007 with 548,527 visits. Elsewhere, the number of tourists visiting the Biscuit Factory art gallery in Shieldfield, Newcastle, were up by 12.5%, while the Seven Stories centre for children’s books, on Lime Street, in the Lower Ouseburn Valley, Newcastle, reported a 9% rise in users.
Louise Davis, head of tourism and culture at One NorthEast said: “We have a great range of visitor attractions that showcase our rich history and heritage and make the most of our fantastic coastline and countryside. These attractions play a major part in the visitor economy of the region which annually is worth nearly £4bn to the local economy.
“The region continues to attract many visitors year after year who come to experience our vibrant culture and enjoy the quality of attractions and accommodation available.”
Tom Wright, the chief executive of VisitBritain who unveiled the figures, said: “The North East has performed well in the last year, seeing a 3% increase in overall visitor numbers to the region.
“It is great news that there have been some huge increases such as Cragside House, Gardens and estate being up 80% year on year and demonstrates the demand for the wealth of attractions available in the area.”
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Tourism now worth £4bn a year to the region - Sep 24 2008
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