The number of visits to tourism attractions is still below pre-pandemic levels as many people remain “out of the habit” of going to them, according to new research.
There were 146.6 million visits to major UK venues in 2023, down 11% from 163.9 million in 2019 before the virus crisis, according to trade body the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions (Alva).
Bernard Donoghue, Alva director, said attractions are “recovering well” – with the 2023 total representing a 19% increase from the previous 12 months – but warned “they’re still not back to full recovery”.
He told the PA news agency this is partly down to people who “got out of the habit of going to museums and galleries” when they were closed during coronavirus lockdowns.
These people may still be “anxious” about the virus while the cost-of-living crisis is also having an effect as many potential visitors are making “tactical judgments about how they spend their leisure pounds”, he…
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