Visitor attractions in Perthshire enjoyed a 4.4% growth in visitor numbers in 2007 compared with 2006, according to VisitScotland’s Scottish Visitor Attraction Monitor, which was recently announced.

The region’s visitor attractions welcomed over 1.3 million visitors last year. The Queens’ View Visitor Centre at Dunkeld, Blair Castle and Tulllibardine Distillery proved to be the most popular.

Among the top Perthshire performers in terms of growth in numbers from 2006 to 2007 were the Scottish Liqueur Centre whose visits increased by 81.1% due to a successful marketing and public relations campaign.

Visits to Perth Museum & Art Gallery rose by 48.2% due to the attraction extending their season and opening hours.

Atholl Country Life Museum also reported an increase in visitors over the same period with a rise of 26.4% attributing this to increased public relations activity.

An increase in school visits alongside a refurbishment were the reasons behind the 30.2% increase in visits that were also experienced by the Black Watch Regimental Museum.

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.