VisitAberdeenshire launched a new guide aimed at preparing the North-east for the arrival of the global billion-dollar cruise industry at a workshop in Aberdeen on October 10, ahead of the new cruise-friendly Aberdeen South Harbour opening in 2020.
49 local tourism businesses attend the free cruise-ready workshop at Aberdeen Treetops Hotel, where delegates heard how they could prepare to ensure their business is cruise-friendly. The cruise sector is a significant growth market for Scotland, and this year passenger numbers are set to increase to 656,000, an increase of 145% from 2010 figures, now adding £72 million each year to the Scottish economy.
VisitAberdeenshire, the lead tourism agency for Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, with partners Aberdeen Harbour Board and Scottish Enterprise, facilitated two workshops to identify key opportunities, challenges and prospects for collaboration. Elaine Booth, business engagement manager at VisitAberdeenshire said, “The response to the cruise ready workshops has been fantastic, both sessions were oversubscribed demonstrating the real appetite that local businesses have in making the most of the cruise market, and we will be planning further session based on the success of today. While the 2020 harbour extension opening may feel like it’s someway off, the workshop discussed the necessity of starting our development work now to ensure we are cruise ship ready. The sessions highlighted the need for local businesses to collaborate and offer innovative unique guest experiences of the highest quality to meet the expectations of the cruise visitor.
“The Aberdeen Harbour expansion has presented us with a real opportunity to grow our cruise market share, which is rapidly growing in Scotland. Today’s workshops, and the launch of our new cruise ready guide for business, which can be downloaded at visitabdn.com, is the starting point in ensuring that the Aberdeen region will be recognised as a world class cruise destination.”
Aberdeen Harbour chief executive, Colin Parker said, “The development of South Harbour will allow Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire to fully experience the impact of the phenomenon which is the larger vessel cruise market in Scotland today. What South Harbour will provide is a much-sought-after ability to berth large cruise vessels ‘alongside’, eliminating the need for cruise operators to ferry passengers to shore by small boat. The cruise companies are also enthusiastic as to what this corner of northern Scotland, has to offer. It is not an exaggeration to describe the area supported by the Harbour as representing one of the last great, untapped, cruise destinations in the U.K.”
For more information on VisitAberdeenshire, visit www.visitabdn.com.