The report commissioned by National Museums Scotland and compiled by independent consultants Biggar Economics, projects that £58.1 million in Gross Value Added (GVA) per year will be generated for the Scottish economy, supporting over 2600 full time equivalent (fte) jobs. In Edinburgh alone, this equates to £39.9 million GVA and 1,772 fte jobs in the economy.
In addition to the economic benefits, the report emphasises the importance of National Museums Scotland in helping sustain and enhance the tourism economy for Scotland and its capital, noting that world class museums are a proven driver of contemporary international tourism.
The report also notes the relevance of National Museums Scotland to business, highlighting the scale and quality of spaces for corporate hospitality and events, and the wider importance of culture in terms of attracting investment and retaining high-quality employees. National Museums Scotland is also a centre for unique learning experiences, from school visits to informal events for families – inspiring people of all ages and boosting creativity.
The economic impact of National Museums Scotland’s activity extended to across Scotland’s 32 local authority areas last year. In addition to having operations in four local authority areas, it also has an impact through procurement and an extensive outreach programme. Museums are major attractions locally and nationally, with high footfall all the year round, high visitor satisfaction, and consistent investment in development.