Angus saw an 8% increase in the number of visitors in 2024, which included 807,000 people coming for single days out. This generates a lot of income for the local economy.
So anything that increases visitor numbers will be welcome. For that to happen, Angus needs to be open for business, and that includes our unique heritage locations.
Arbroath Abbey was slow to reopen following Covid and is now closed part of the week as well as essentially 90 minutes over lunchtimes.
HES has been through the wringer these past years with the Auditor General.
But it receives £70 million of taxpayers’ money each year and I cannot accept the abbey being treated as anything less than a jewel in the crown.
I am asking the culture secretary Angus Robertson to visit Arbroath and engage with Angus Council on ways to bring maximise visitor numbers.
Ultimately HES is his responsibility and the buck stops with him to put this right.”
https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/5313967/angus-tourism-2024-spendin…
