Staycations and the recession boosts National Trust visitor numbers
Wednesday, September 23, 2009 12:47Views differ greatly over whether this year has proved popular for ‘staycation’ holidays, however, for one charity it’s been a great year.
Figures just released by the National Trust show that it has significantly benefited from ‘staycations’ and the weakness of sterling. Visitor numbers at pay-for-entry properties are up a massive 18 per cent on last year – more than 12 million people visited National Trust properties by the start of this September, only 2.8 million down on the whole of 2008!
The Trust has also seen a rise in membership uptake which now stands at 3.76 million – up by more than 250,000 on two years ago.
The National Trust looks after more than 300 historic houses and gardens including the Giant’s Causeway, Dunstanburgh Castle, Bateman’s the former home of Rudyard Kipling, St Michael’s Mount in Cornwall and Conwy Suspension Bridge.
