Staff at venues such as the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow have been dusting down statues, sweeping exhibition rooms and making sure attractions are looking their very best, ahead of what promises to be a busy summer for Scotland.
In just a few weeks, hundreds of thousands of people will descend on Glasgow as the city plays host to the XX Commonwealth Games.
The Games is expected to draw thousands of new visitors to both Glasgow and Scotland, meaning that attractions located near these official venues are likely to see an increase in visitors.
A recent survey conducted by Glasgow 2014 found that 80% of spectators are interested in finding out more about what else there is to see and do in Glasgow, with almost three quarters of people expressing a specific desire to receive more information about visitor attractions.
Whilst the majority of official Games venues are in Glasgow, events such as diving, shooting and triathlon will be held in the Commonwealth Pool in the Capital, Barry Buddon in Carnoustie and Strathclyde Country Park in Motherwell.
It means that museums, galleries and other tourism services in Glasgow and further afield in Edinburgh, Lanarkshire and Angus are also likely to benefit from a rise in footfall as people take a break from the sporting action to explore the local area.
Last year, attractions such as The National Museum of Scotland, Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Riverside Museum and the Glasgow Science Centre were among the busiest in the country, welcoming a total of around 4 million visitors through their doors.
Mike Cantlay, Chairman of VisitScotland, said: “The Commonwealth Games offers a unique opportunity to show the world exactly what Scotland has to offer, from world-class events to diverse culture, stunning landscapes and welcoming people. Our friendly and informative VisitScotland Information Centres staff will be on hand throughout the Games to help ensure visitors have the experience of a lifetime when they arrive in Scotland.
“I am certain that visitor attractions – many of which are located near official Games venues such as the SSE Hydro, the SECC and the Commonwealth Pool- will be a big draw to spectators looking for that perfect blend of sport and culture.”
Councillor Archie Graham, Chair of Glasgow Life, said: “This is Glasgow’s time to shine on a massive, global stage. Glasgow is Scotland’s cultural powerhouse, with award-winning museums and a fantastic array of music and performance venues and we are looking forward to sharing them with the world during the Games.
“Glasgow boasts nine civic museums, including the treasures of the Burrell Collection and Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum and our most recent addition, the Riverside Museum, was crowned as the 2013 European Museum of the Year. We look forward to opening our doors to visitors from across the world and right here on our own doorstep for what promises to be an incredible summer.”
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