Supported by: Joan McAlpine*, James Dornan*, Gillian Martin*, Sandra White*, Bill Kidd*, Richard Lyle*, Stuart McMillan*, Colin Beattie* *S5M-04991 Ben Macpherson: Record Year for Scotland's Leading Visitor Attractions That — the Parliament welcomes the latest figures from the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions (ALVA), which illustrate that this has been a record year for Scotland's leading visitor attractions, with a total of 15 million visitors to these in 2016, giving Scotland one of the best years on record; understands that these figures show that Scotland outperformed the rest of the UK in 2016 with an annual increase of more than 15% in visitors to its attractions; recognises that Scotland s most ’ popular attraction was the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh, which opened 10 new galleries in 2016 and saw 1.8 million visitors during that year; further recognises that this was Friday 31 March 2017 10 Today's Business Future Business Motions & Questions Legislation Other Gnothaichean an-diugh Gnothaichean ri teachd Gluasadan agus Ceistean Reachdas Eile Motions | Gluasadan closely followed by Edinburgh Castle, which saw 1,778,548 visitors, a 13% increase; appreciates that the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art in Edinburgh saw a 29% increase and rose 11 places after attracting 285,688 visitors; further appreciates that Urquhart Castle at Drumnadrochit saw a 14% increase and that Glasgow's Riverside Museum enjoyed an 11% boost in visitor numbers; congratulates all those who volunteer and work for many of the attractions across Scotland, for ensuring brilliant experiences for visitors, and believes that the success of its top visitor attractions plays a vital role in making Scotland a destination of first choice for visitors from the UK and across the world.