Having welcomed 830,000 visitors in its first year, Dundee’s renowned waterfront museum was bound to reach the one million figure before long. Seven-year-old Nalani Becker from Berlin was the attendee credited with taking the institution past this significant point.
Scottish culture secretary Fiona Hyslop offered her congratulations to V&A Dundee, saying the milestone represented an “impressive achievement and a sign of the museum’s strong appeal to visitors from around the world.”
The museum, built with the help of £38 million in Scottish Government funding, Hyslop continued, “has already more than proved its cultural value, far exceeding expectations for visitor numbers and improving Scotland’s status as a prime destination for world-class cultural experiences.”
The influx of tourists to Dundee since the V&A’s arrival has been substantial. Research into the museum’s impact suggests it has been worth £21 million to the Dundonian economy and £75 million to Scotland as a whole. Separate research also found that tourism in the city is now worth more than £10 million a month.
“Our stunning museum is now very firmly part of the cultural fabric of Dundee, with its design galleries and exhibition programme attracting locals and visitors alike,” Dundee City Council leader John Alexander added.
“It has raised Dundee’s international profile and played a key part in securing record-breaking tourism figures. V&A Dundee is helping to create jobs and new economic opportunities for the city.”
