Liverpool city centre has recorded its busiest April on record with half a million more visitors than in 2010.
A total of 5.6 million people were monitored by five special cameras located across the City Central Business Improvement District (BID) - 1.3m more than in the European Capital of Culture year in 2008.
The 10% year on year rise in Liverpool is in stark contrast to an 0.8% drop recorded nationally.
That is despite April being the warmest on record and containing two four day bank holiday weekends, including the Easter break holiday.
April also saw an extra 1.2million more people than in March, with the city centre hosting a raft of major weekend events such as Spring on The Waterfront, Liverpool Blitz weekend, Taste of Spain, the Liverpool Discovers public art event.
And tourists flocked in from all over the world for the Aintree Grand National weekend.
These weekend events helped explain why Saturday was the busiest day in the month with a collective 1.5 million people recorded on the cameras, which cover the heart of Liverpool from Bold Street to Mathew Street and Church Street to Lime Street.
Grand National day on Saturday April 9 was the busiest day, with 418,966 people captured by the cameras.
The startling figures were hailed as ‘a phenomenal vote of confidence’ in the improving appeal of Liverpool, which is now ranked as one of Europe’s top 20 retail destinations and top 5 in the UK.
Ed Oliver, Chairman of City Central BID, said: ‘’For Liverpool city centre to attract so many people while the rest of the nation struggled is a huge boost to everyone who works so hard to make it an appealing place to visit, shop and play in.’’
Councillor Joe Anderson, Leader of Liverpool City Council, said: “Liverpool is a must-visit tourist destination and these figures show that more and more people are enjoying our first-class shopping offer and event-packed calendar.
“And I’m sure this success will continue with the fantastic events the city has coming up over the next few months.
“The Liverpool International Tennis Tournament is in June, and July will see the opening of the new Museum of Liverpool. Celebrations around the centenary of the Liver Building take place in July and the ever popular Mathew Street Music Festival returns in August – so much to look forward to for residents and visitors alike.”
Ged Gibbons, Chief Executive of City Central BID, which also ran a Golden Ticket holiday competition across 20 stores throughout April, added: ‘’A lot of planning by a whole host of partners goes in to giving people of all ages and budgets something to do and see in Liverpool city centre. April was jam packed with events to take advantage of the holidays and couple with the great weather we’ve definitely had a magical month which will have no doubt had an impact on the tills.’’
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