Heritage watchdog warns of Edinburgh ‘festivalisation’

Edinburgh risks losing its world heritage status if the "festivalisation" of the city continues.

Heritage watchdog The Cockburn Association has warned the events industry has "taken over the city", criticising the growth of the Scottish capitals major festivals.

Chair Cliff Hague said a "thoughtless and short-term approach [will] only hasten the day we join Liverpool on the international naughty list".

READ MORE: Liverpool stripped of UNESCO World Heritage city status

Edinburgh's summer festivals held 5,000 events and attracted a record audience of more than 4.4m in 2019.

The city is operating a reduced programme this summer, with 1,100 events scheduled across 150 stages.

Director of Festivals Edinburgh Julia Amour said the Cockburn Association's fears over the city's heritage status were misplaced.

"We value the quality of experience over the volume of experience [and] that message is just being reinforced as we come back.”