Edinburgh Castle Nominated for Top Travel Award

That the Parliament welcomes the news that Edinburgh Castle and The Real Mary King's Close have both been nominated for the Best Heritage Attraction award in the prestigious British Travel Awards (BTA); notes that the BTA are considered the benchmark for excellence when it comes to finding the best in the travel industry; acknowledges that the public will decide which attraction wins and will have until 30 September 2019 to vote, and that winners will be announced at the BTA Gala Awards Dinner in London on 27 November; recognises that over 2 million people visited Edinburgh Castle in 2019, making it Scotland’s number one paid-for visitor attraction; appreciates that the Castle has previously been nominated for a BTA Best Heritage Attraction award, winning four times in a row, in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014; understands that The Real Mary King's Close has been fully opened to the public as a historic visitor attraction since 2003; believes that having two finalists at the BTA finals highlights not only the quality attractions that Edinburgh has to offer tourists but the value of the tourism industry to the city; thanks the staff and volunteers at both attractions for their efforts, which have made them such successes, and wishes Edinburgh Castle and The Real Mary King's Close all the best at the BTA.