Member Article

York's Continuum Attractions invests half a million in Edinburgh tourist trap

York tourist attraction operator Continuum Attractions has agreed a £500k investment into Continuum Heritage Attraction The Real Mary King’s Close, in agreement with the City of Edinburgh Council.

The announcement comes as the 5 star Edinburgh attraction based on the Royal Mile opened as a Continuum Attraction back in 2003 and recently hit the 2 million visitor mark.

The Real Mary King’s Close has enjoyed a steady 3.6% year-on-year average growth in visitor numbers over the last five years. Last year alone, the iconic attraction welcomed over 200,000 guests.

Continuum Attractions is investing £500k into the development, which will mark a new phase in the The Real Mary King’s Close’s history that is set to significantly enhance the visitor experience both above and below ground.

The six figure enhancements follow an investment into the site in 2013 as part of ten year celebrations, ensuring that this popular five star attraction continues to bolster Edinburgh’s tourism offering whilst exceeding visitor expectations.

Councillor Frank Ross, Economy Convener for the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “The Real Mary King’s Close is one of Edinburgh’s five star award winning attractions and this redevelopment will really help to boost the visitor experience.

“Reinvesting in our attractions is key to ensure the Capital’s Old Town continues to be a world class tourist destination.

“A share of the profits from The Real Mary King’s Close is reinvested into the Council and its services, and hopefully locals will also feel encouraged to rediscover the Close and the history of their town’s ancient streets.”

Chief executive of Continuum Attractions, Juliana Delaney FTS said:“Working in close collaboration with the City of Edinburgh Council, we are delighted to announce that The Real Mary King’s Close will evolve again for its 12th season.

“This is just one of a number of successful Local Authority partnerships within our group.

“We’re proud that we have almost doubled our turnover in the past two years, and as a result, look forward to adding to our portfolio and continuing to invest in our established successful attractions in the near future.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Clare Burnett .