Williamsburg reports slight dip in ticket sales in 2011

Colonial Williamsburg recorded a slight drop in the number of general-admission tickets it sold last year, the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation reported Friday. But the foundation’s president said the tourist attraction had a strong finish to the year.

Colonial Williamsburg reported selling 670,500 “paid general-admission tickets” last year, down 2 percent from 686,000 in 2010.

The total number of visitors, or “the visitor gate count,” totaled 1.7 million in 2011, “basically unchanged” from the previous year, the foundation said in a news release. About 212,000 tickets were sold for evening programs and carriage rides in 2011, down 3 percent from 218,000 last year.

Donations, however, increased to $14.5 million from $14.3 million in 2010, the foundation reported.

In a statement, Colin Campbell, president and CEO of the foundation, blamed “the uncertain economy and political gridlock in Washington, as well as both an earthquake and hurricane” for a sluggish summer. But he said, “We were encouraged during the holiday season by strong ticket sales, occupancy in our hotels, attendance at evening programs, and retail and dining revenue, which all outpaced 2010.”

– Philip Walzer

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