Aberdeen Harbour in Scotland is expected to develop and allow all the cruise ships to berth alongside the dock, eliminating the need for the operators to ferry the passengers.
Aberdeen Harbour will expand its business with an investment of £350 million to attract more foreign tourists.
There are two workshops, aimed at preparing businesses for the expected arrival of cruise passengers, were oversubscribed when held yesterday at the Hilton Treetops Hotel.
VisitAberdeenshire, Aberdeen Harbour Board and Scottish Enterprise organised the event for more than 100 delegates to classify the key opportunities for the growth of the cruise tourism industry.
Elaine Booth, the Business Engagement Manager of VisitAberdeenshire, said the cruise tourism workshop is the “starting point” in ensuring that the Aberdeen region will be recognised as a “world class cruise destination”.
Elaine Booth also added that the response to the cruise ready workshops has been fantastic and create enthusiasm for the people. Both sessions were oversubscribed that is showing the real appetite that local businesses have in making the most of the cruise market.
While the 2020 harbour extension in Aberdeen Harbour opening may feel like it’s some way off, the workshop discussed the necessity of starting our development work now to ensure that they are cruise ship ready. Now the sessions highlighted the need for local businesses to collaborate and offer pioneering sole guest experiences of the highest quality to assemble the expectations of the cruise visitor.
The Aberdeen harbour development has presented the tourism department with a real opportunity to grow the cruise market share in Aberdeen, which is rapidly growing in Scotland and is estimated to generate £72 million per year.
The cruise sector in Scotland has a significant growth market and this year the passenger numbers are set to reach 656,000, an increase of 145% from 2010 figures.
