The operator of RLB360, a tour of the iconic Royal Liver Building, has issued a plea to the public to help “save the British tourism industry”.

Heritage Great Britain, the visitor attractions company which also operates the Snowdon Mountain Railway, says it needs “visitors to return like never before” as they prepare to reopen following the three-month COVID-19 lockdown.

The Liverpool-based firm which also owns hotels at Land’s End, John O’Groats and The Needles Landmark Attraction on the Isle of Wight, says the impact of the pandemic has been ‘devastating’ and that they can only recover if people support local tourism.

Peter Johnson-Treherne, Heritage Great Britain director, says: “We are preparing to reopen our sites in early July. The Royal Liver Building 360 experience will be the first visitor attraction to reopen, with our other locations including Snowdon Mountain Railway, The Needle’s on the Isle of Wight, Land’s End and John O’Groats shortly afterwards.

“The truth is we need visitors to return like never before if we stand any chance of saving the British tourism industry this year.

“The impact of the  Covid-19 pandemic has been completely devastating.  The impact will be felt here in Liverpool because we rely so heavily on visitors to boost the economy.

“Royal Liver Building 360 was approaching its first year in business before we closed. The tour was incredibly popular but the pandemic has hit us, like other visitor attractions, hard. It is possible that some won’t survive.

“We are planning a safe reopening of our attractions in accordance with government guidelines but we are urging the British public to support us.

“We need people to choose local visitor attractions and to take their holidays in the UK. The remaining months of summer are going to be critical to us.”

Heritage Great Britain’s Royal Liver Building 360 experience reopens this Saturday, 4 July.