Decline in visitor numbers to Nottingham tourist attractions
A NEW survey has revealed the decline in visitor numbers to many city attractions – with some down 36 per cent in a year.
Nottingham Castle, Brewhouse Yard Museum and Nottingham Contemporary all saw their visitors tumble between 2010 and 2011.
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Staying away: Fewer people visited Nottingham Castle.
Other attractions – the Galleries of Justice, Newstead Abbey and Wollaton Hall – also saw a fall.
Conservative city councillor Roger Steel called for action. He said: "More needs to be done to improve the attractions in the city – these figures are extremely disappointing.
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"The city has fantastic potential – it's the home of Byron, Robin Hood and Batman – but it isn't being realised and promoted enough and a different approach is needed.
"Nottingham needs to think big and not have just piecemeal initiatives."
The figures show the number of visitors to Nottingham Castle has dropped from 266,490 in 2010 to 170,225 in 2011, a fall of 36.1 per cent.
They also revealed that Brewhouse Yard's visitors dropped by 32.1 per cent, Newstead Abbey's by 16.6 per cent and Nottingham Contemporary by 13.8 per cent.
Mr Steel added: "We need to give people a reason to visit our museums and it may be time for a different approach to the way they are run.
"The city has so much to offer and it's potential isn't being realised and that is something that needs to change."
Outside the city, there were big increases in visitors at Southwell Minster, up by nearly 40 per cent, and Mansfield Museum, up 13.6 per cent.
Nigel Hawkins, Nottingham City Council head of culture and business management, said the figures reflected a "transition year" for the Museums and Galleries Service where a number of new prices and changes in operating hours were introduced as part of savings the council made to continue to provide frontline services and balance its budget.
Comments
by ferretman
Saturday, September 01 2012, 1:27PM
“Could just be the awful weather for the last few years and the poor showing of the pound against foreign money stopping tourists visiting the UK”
by Nick2812
Saturday, September 01 2012, 12:25PM
“These statistics are not very useful.
What I would need to know is how the decline in local visitors compared with those from outside Nottingham and those from overseas in particular.
There is no economic benefit from locals having a Sunday afternoon at the Castle.”
by lizzie
Saturday, September 01 2012, 12:23PM
“There are still signs on Western Boulevard directing drivers to American Adventure (closed 4 years ago?) and pedestrian signs in the City Centre for Tales of Robin Hood. Seriously, it needs sorting! Nottingham needs an ATTRACTIVE attraction not Slab Square and "The Box" (aka the Nottingham Contemporary) and a manor house aka a castle.”
by Nottingham Photographs
Saturday, September 01 2012, 9:29AM
“"The city has fantastic potential – it's the home of Byron, Robin Hood and Batman – but it isn't being realised and promoted enough and a different approach is needed."
Wrong Gotham!
Seriously though I think this is so true. We have so many resources and so little is done to capitalise on it. So many of these venues are tired and lacking investment.”
by paulr27
Saturday, September 01 2012, 8:28AM
“I agree with CALTHROSS. I too would wish that Jon Collins would disappear into oblivion. It is very unhealthy the lack of transparency over council spending and the fact that so many important decisions have been made behind closed doors and not properly debated among other councillors.
The Labour party declined to elect him as a candidate for the national elections in 2010 because they realised he has made a lot of enemies and was not certain to be elected as an MP. I have no doubt that in 30 years time people will still be cursing Collins because of the stupid anti car decisions he has made which have done so much harm to Nottingham business.”
by bestwoodbob
Saturday, September 01 2012, 8:08AM
“Nottingham needs a medieval theme park !!! old fashioned style rides
With a few jesters, jugglers, fire eaters and trick horse riders thrown in for good measure.
have all the staff dressed up
name the rides after robins merry men & ladys
"I can see it now "Hoods Hideout" roll up roll up!!”
by CALTHROSS
Saturday, September 01 2012, 7:26AM
“SlickSpoons do you jest when you say "Jon Collins is an inspirational leader"?
I am careful what I wish for and wish that Jon Collins would disappear into oblivion.
According to Central News the council want to spend £20million on a Robin Hood complex.
Beggars belief when we are in recession and harsh austerity measures are taking place.
Care homes being sold off,food banks on the increase etc,police horses having been disbanded to save money.The list goes on.
People being forced into destitution.
Do we really need a Robin Hood complex costing £20m in such harsh times?
Visitor numbers have fallen perhaps the cause being that we are in recession and people are having to save their pounds or simply haven't got the money to waste on such things.
Going to the castle is very expensive on the weekends and to those who arrive by car as we know parking is a dilemna,you may find your car has been towed away when you get back to it.
And as said restricted opening times are also a problem.Mustn't work them to hard must we.”
by paulnottm
Friday, August 31 2012, 9:07PM
“doesn't help when you charge stupid prices to go into the castle does it?”
by D99WR
Friday, August 31 2012, 8:14PM
“Maybe the Nottingham information centre might open on bank holidays - oh sorry council employees might have to work according to need rather than their preferences.
Tourist must get confused”
by Alberto Frog
Friday, August 31 2012, 8:12PM
“The Brewhouse Yard museum used to be a great place to visit, now the classrom is closed because of cuts (so no school trips in the week to generate money), the opening hours are shorter because of cuts so less time to get people in and the place is in desperate need of a lick of paint but won't get one because of cuts.
Maybe if investment was made in the attractions to make them more attractive, people would visit.”