VisitEngland has announced the winners of its 2023-2024 Visitor Attraction Accolades, recognising 72 attractions across England for exceptional visitor experiences.
According to a press statement by the tourism promotion organisation, the awards, which are now in their 10th year, celebrate excellence in five key categories: ‘Welcome,’ ‘Quality Food and Drink,’ ‘Hidden Gem,’ ‘Best Told Story,’ and the ‘Gold’ accolade for overall excellence.
It says that the accolades are awarded based on performance in the VisitEngland Visitor Attraction Quality Scheme, where attractions are assessed annually.
The statement adds that this comprehensive evaluation ensures that top-performing attractions provide outstanding service in key areas, contributing to an unforgettable experience for visitors.
“These accolades highlight the wonderful visitor experiences provided by English attractions, from the warmest of welcomes to amazing food and drink, from great storytelling to outstanding customer service. Our tourism businesses are the bedrock of our industry and it is wonderful to highlight and celebrate the fantastic service and experiences they give visitors, time-after-time. From museums, gardens and nature reserves to farm attractions, estates and theme parks, these attractions go out of their way to make visits memorable,” says Andrew Stokes, Director, VisitEngland.
The statement adds that the awards are available to a broad range of participants, including historic houses, gardens, museums, country parks, farm attractions and churches.
It says that winners also receive personalised guidance from VisitEngland‘s experienced assessors on how to further improve and promote their visitor offerings.
The 2023-2024 awards were presented during a celebratory event at the British Motor Museum in Warwickshire, reflecting the critical role that tourism plays in the English economy.
The tourism sector supports more than 200,000 businesses, employing approximately 2.6 million people, and in 2023, generated GBP 70.5 billion in domestic visitor spending.