The increased numbers of visitors to the Centre had several positive effects. Direct income from car parking charges was less than that generated by admissions under the pre-1992 charging strategy. However, as visitor numbers increased and more people visited the site, using the caf and buying gifts and souvenirs in the shop, revenue increased from indirect income. In order to try and increase indirect spending and encourage visitors, booked coaches and groups do not pay for parking. Orange badge holders park free.
All visitors arriving by boat, bus, bicycle and on foot have free admission to the whole site.
The National Park Authority does not envisage any change to this policy as it supports the Lake District Traffic Management Initiative. Income is a difficult area to estimate as it is sensitive to external factors over which the Centre has no control, for example, the weather, general economy, visitor patterns and changing leisure trends. As part of the National Park Authority's Five Year Financial Strategy, the budgets for the revenue and operating cost of The Lake District Visitor Centre have been considered. Income generation can be difficult to estimate so expenditure must be monitored and controlled carefully. Variable costs will often alter during a financial year in order that financial targets can be achieved.