Visitor attractions in Ayrshire and Arran enjoyed a 7.2% growth in visitor numbers in 2007 compared with 2006, according to VisitScotland’s Scottish Visitor Attraction Monitor.

The region’s visitor attractions welcomed over 1.3 million visitors last year. Burns National Heritage Park, Dean Castle and Culzean Castle all experienced growth and were the top three attractions in 2007.

Among the region’s top performers in terms of growth in numbers from 2006 to 2007, were the Dick Institute Museum with a 31% increase in visitors and Heads of Ayr Farm Park who have reported an increase of 27.3% helped by local TV advertising.

Dundonald Castle also saw a rise of 26.3% in visitors due to their advertising and marketing efforts.

Attractions throughout Scotland as a whole were visited by more than 45.5 million visitors in 2007, an increase of just under 2 per cent.

The annual Visitor Attraction Monitor is compiled on behalf of national tourism agency VisitScotland by the independent research body the Moffat Centre for Travel and Tourism Business Development and represents approximately 700 visitor attractions across the country.

For further information on tourism facts and figures visit www.visitscotland.org/research_and_statistics