Richard III’s tomb a big tourism boost
RICARDIAN visitors to Leicester Cathedral are helping boost the landmark’s contribution to the local economy.
The resting place of Richard III contributes £8.7 million annually, which is likely to rise to £15 million over the next six years, as ambitious redevelopment plans are completed.
The figure is made up of £6m directly related to the cathedral, and a further £2.7m from the indirect impact of visitors’ additional spending in the city and beyond.
The results are part of independent research by the University of Wolverhampton, carried out as part of the £11.3 million Leicester Cathedral Revealed redevelopment.
The Very Reverend David Monteith, dean of Leicester, said: “Leicester Cathedral aspires to be a beating heart for city and county.
“We do this in many ways, through prayer and worship, through service to the vulnerable, and as a place of gathering for many.
“What this report establishes is how much we also contribute in economic terms.”
More than 1,000 visitors to the cathedral were interviewed, with the team further researching the local economy and consulting managers of other tourist attrac- tions in the city.
Sir Peter Soulsby, mayor of Leicester, said: “I am delighted to see this report which confirms just how important the cathedral is to the economic life of the city and county, as well as the many other benefits it brings to our communities.”
The cathedral received 198,000 visitors in 2016.
Slightly under half of the visitors came from beyond the county of Leicestershire, with one on 10 coming from overseas.
Just under one in three live in the county and one in four come from the city itself.
Dr Peter Robinson, who led the research survey work, said: “This has been a really interesting opportunity to consider the importance of the discovery of King Richard III on the economic development of the city.”