The British Museum – credit, Luke Massey & the Greater London National Park City Initiative
After months of discussions between UK ministries, the tourism sector, and London’s museums, the government has decided that the country’s national museums will remain free to international visitors.
These 14 institutions include such renowned museums as the National Gallery, the British Museum, and the Natural History Museum among others, which together attract tens of millions of visitors every year.
The decision for them to remain free, even to foreigners, was prompted by an independent review published in December by former Labour Party minister Margaret Hodge, who said a charging model for international tourists “would align the UK with other countries, such as New Zealand and Singapore, that charge an entry fee to international visitors while retaining free entry for citizens and residents.”
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) considered the notion, but after months of consolations that included local community leaders, decided to keep museum entry free.
“The government believes that charging overseas visitors could deter domestic visitors and that the impacts and benefits of charging would not be felt equally across the sector and therefore will not introduce charges for overseas visitors,” DCMC said in a statement.
Free admission was first instituted by Tony Blair’s Labour government in 2001.
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“It’s great news that the government has committed to continuing to keep museums free for everyone,” said London’s mayor, Sadiq Khan.
“By keeping these important venues open to all, we will continue to educate and entertain generations to come and show why we are the culture capital of the world, as we build a fairer, more inclusive London for everyone.”
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