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Heritage attractions boost England’s economy by £12bn

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crown jewels at the tower of london

A new report published by Historic England has revealed that heritage is a major contributor to England’s economy.

Heritage is a source of employment and draws millions of visitors each year.

England’s unique collection of historic buildings provides premises for businesses and homes for residents.

The report, entitled, Heritage and the Economy 2017, reveals that:

  • Heritage contributed £11.9 billion in Gross Value Added (GVA) (the measure of the value of goods and services produced in an area, industry or sector of the economy.) This is equivalent to 2% of national GVA.
  • There are 278,000 people employed in heritage.
  • Heritage tourism generated £16.4 billion in spending by domestic and international visitors.
  • The repair and maintenance of historic buildings generated £9.6 billion in construction sector output.

Adala Leeson, Head of Social and Economic Research at Historic England, said: “England’s historic environment provides jobs, attracts tourists and contributes to the construction sector and Gross Value Added.”

“It’s intrinsically linked to the whole country’s economic prosperity. Our new report shows the value that heritage brings to England. It’s not just about money. We are growing the ways in which we can measure the social benefits that heritage brings through the sense of identity and belonging that it gives communities. We have also calculated that volunteers dedicate £520m in the hours they give towards day-to-day protection of our built heritage.”

Volunteering at heritage organisations represents 6% of all voluntary work in England. Repair and maintenance of historic buildings represents 7% of construction output nationally. For every £1 spent as part of a heritage visit, 32p is spent on site and the remaining 68p in local restaurants, cafes, hotels and shops.

Image courtesy of the Tower of London

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Michael Mander

Michael Mander

I am a journalist from Essex, England. I enjoy travelling, and love exploring attractions around the world. I graduated from Lancaster University in 2018. Twitter @michael_mander.

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