Edinburgh Castle retains the crown as a top tourist attraction

The number of visitors to the landmark increased by 217.6% to 1,356,168 in 2022.

Overall, Scotland’s visitor attractions saw a 53.5% increase in visitor numbers over the past year as Covid restrictions were eased.

Previous procedures for managing attendance, including pre-booking tickets and recommended travel direction, were scrapped by many venues when restrictions were eased.

Attractions across the country recorded 48,675,631 visits, 16,961,432 more than 2021.

However, figures from Glasgow Caledonian University’s Moffat Center and the Association of Scottish Visitor Attractions (ASVA) show that despite the 16% increase, the total is below pre-pandemic levels of 2019.

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Tourism experts described the results as “patchy” and there are real concerns about the impact of rising living costs.

The National Museum of Scotland remains the number one free attraction, up 198.7% to 1,973,751.

Paid entry attractions recorded 15,053,896 visitors across Scotland in 2022, up 63.2% on the previous year.

Free venues had 33,621,735 visitors last year compared to 22,490,582 in 2021 – a 49.5% increase.

Edinburgh Castle’s success was repeated by Stirling Castle, up 181.4% to 418,180, and Urquhart Castle, up 233.6% to 357,154.

Meanwhile, the number of visitors to Newhaile’s House and Gardens in Musselburgh rose 316.6% to 272,737.

Attendance at Greyfriars Kirkyard, the second most popular free attraction after the National Museum of Scotland, tripled from 487,445 to 1,967,871.

Glasgow’s Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum and Riverside Museum had strong years, up 237% and 275% respectively. The Burrell Collection, which reopened last year after a £66million refurbishment, has seen 482,984 visits.

Across the Scottish Highlands as a whole, 73 attractions are up 53.8% – some 1.3 million additional visitors, with paid attractions doing particularly well.

This included the Loch of the Lowes nature reserve near Dunkeld, where the number rose from 8,152 to 12,481.

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Cherry Bowen, Visitor Center Assistant said: “The 2022 season at Loch of the Lowes started well with the earliest ever recorded arrival of our Ospreys.

“Lowes has a great variety of wildlife all year round, from squirrels to beavers, great spotted woodpeckers to nuthatches, but between March and August many visitors come specifically to see and photograph the ospreys.

Lowes Game Reserve is not on a public transport route as most visitors arrive by private car or are a 30-40 minute walk from Dunkeld.

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“The cost of living crisis and high fuel prices were highlighted by people’s comments that they were cutting back on their visits.

“So did our volunteers, those who came from further afield reduced their shifts to twice a month rather than every week.

“All in all, freed from the Covid restrictions of previous years, we have been pleased to see our attendance growing towards ‘normal’.”

Professor John Lennon, Director of the Moffat Center for Travel and Tourism at Glasgow Caledonian University, said: “This survey reveals a recovering market for visitor attractions, dominated by domestic demand.

“Scottish visitor attractions face a very daunting trading environment characterized by cost inflation and labor shortages – problems that have been slow to ease.

“The recovery is likely to continue but will remain heavily dependent on UK customers in the medium term.”

ASVA Chief Executive Gordon Morrison said: “While it is encouraging to see some recovery for the attractions sector, performance in 2022 has been quite patchy.

“Not all operators had a successful year, and with attendance still well below pre-pandemic levels, there is still a long way to go before we can speak of a full industry-wide recovery.

“Concerns about what the ongoing cost-of-living crisis will mean for visits and spending remain for many.”

ASVA is urging the UK and Scottish governments to take further action to support the industry as costs rise and to reconsider any policy decisions that could increase the financial burden on businesses.

Sir John Leighton, Director-General of the National Galleries of Scotland, which increased by 321% to 1,277,230, added: “We are delighted that the National was the third most visited free attraction in all of Scotland.

“Home to an exceptional collection, including works by internationally renowned artists and some of the finest Scottish painters, The National continues to be a highlight for local, national and international audiences.”

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Sir John Leighton, Director General of the National Galleries of Scotland, which increased by 321% to 1,277,230, added: “We are delighted that the National was the third most visited free attraction in all of Scotland.

“Home to an exceptional collection, including works by internationally renowned artists and some of the finest Scottish painters, The National continues to be a highlight for local, national and international audiences.”