And 2009-10 has been an especially remarkable year for the National Waterfront Museum in Swansea.

Over the past financial year, it welcomed 258,626 visitors, 20.3% up on target and 4000 more than its first full year of operation.  It also celebrated the arrival of its one-millionth visitor on Saturday 7 November, just four years after opening in October 2005.

This year’s highlights include its thriving events and diverse exhibitions, successful community projects, such as the launch of Everywhere in Chains, a community heritage toolkit commemorating the bicentenary of the Slave Trade Abolition Act in 2007, award-winning education programme as well as a special visit from HRH The Princess Royal.

Speaking about the good news, Head of Museum, Steph Mastoris said: “It’s been an amazing year with a full and exciting programme of exhibitions, events and community projects that have continually attracted people to come along and visit

“We’re proud to play a key role in both telling the human story of the industrialisation of the whole of Wales, as well as providing a key cultural facility for the Swansea Bay region.”

This trend of success is echoed across Amgueddfa Cymru-National Museum Wales sites as a whole.  With 382,374 visits, National Museum Cardiff exceeded its target by over 80,000 (+26%).  In terms of percentage increase since the introduction of free entry in 2001, the best performing museum was the National Wool Museum at Dre-fach Felindre with 28,052 visits last year (+211% up compared with 2000-2001) - the first time this Museum has broken through the 25,000 barrier.

Were it not for the severe weather in December and January, Big Pit: National Coal Museum and the National Slate Museum at Llanberis might well have had their best years ever. The National Roman Legion Museum at Caerleon and St Fagans: National History Museum, came in more or less on target.

“It’s nearly a decade since the Welsh Assembly Government made a commitment to fund free entry to our seven national museums and the recession has seen an increase in visitors to our museums - so there is an even greater demand for our services, particularly from those people who are most affected by the economic downturn,” Amgueddfa Cymru Director General, Michael Houlihan.

“By making a positive contribution to the social and economic life of Wales in this way, the National Museums have a leading role to play in culture and heritage provision, education, skills and tourism.

“It is estimated that the total economic impact of its seven museums during 2008-09 supported 2021 full time equivalent jobs and generated £83m of output.  With over 400,000 formal and informal education visits, Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales also provides many routes into life-long learning and training - all of which are crucial at a time of recession.

“We know that difficult times are ahead and we have been working to ensure that we, and the Assembly Government, are united in doing everything we can to ensure that the free entry policy is maintained.”

Minister for Heritage, Alun Ffred Jones, said: 'I would like to congratulate Amgueddfa Cymru on these visitor figures, which are a reflection of the superb visitor offers across their seven sites. Amgueddfa Cymru plays a key role in attracting visitors to Wales, and tourists make a huge contribution to the Welsh economy.  Free entry to the sites of AC-NMW was introduced to enable everyone to enjoy the nation's rich heritage of arts, sciences and social and industrial history and the policy continues to be a remarkable success.”