The north-east is poised to bolster its tourism credentials during the year ahead after a busy 12 months for the buoyant sector.
Jo Robinson, regional director for Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire at tourism body VisitScotlland, said the past year had been “positive” for the region as the country as a whole benefited from events organised to celebrate Scotland’s history, heritage and archaeology.
Several firsts were celebrated in Aberdeen, where new sporting events and major infrastructure developments got under way during 2017, Ms Robinson said.
She added: “In May, I was cheering on the Tour Series athletes as they took part in the first ever Aberdeen round.
“The sun shone on Aberdeen and our city looked splendid as the professional cyclists took on the challenging circuit that took them down Queen’s Terrace, Rosemount Viaduct, Back Wynd and Union Street.
“In August, I took part in the inaugural Great Aberdeen Run, along with three of my colleagues. The buzz was fantastic, with an impressive crowd turning out to support over 8,000 participants in the 10k, half-marathon or family race.”
Several major developments are ongoing in the area, including work on the new £300million-plus Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre and revamps of the city’s main art gallery and music hall.
A new touring route – the North East 250 – could help the region to become better known as a tourism destination and enjoy similar success to other road trips, Ms Robinson said.
She added: “We also have the new Snow Roads touring route, which takes visitors on a scenic drive over Glenshee and the Lecht, and through the Cairngorms to Grantown.
“Aberdeenshire certainly has capacity for increased visitor numbers and I have every confidence that initiatives such as these will drive significant interest in the region.”
There are now more than 100 VisitScotland information Partners (VIPs) in the north-east, giving each establishment the chance to provide more and better quality information directly to visitors.
“It will also add value to the services on offer and make it easier than ever before for visitors to connect with local people,” Ms Robinson said.
Scotland’s Year of Young People (YoYP) during 2018 celebrates the nation’s youth, aiming to create new opportunities for them to express themselves through culture, sport and other activities.
As part of YoYP, a Stepping In event at Aberdeen’s redeveloped Music Hall will see the transformed A-listed building filled with performances, artist commissions, participatory opportunities and storytelling.
There will also be activities added to a host of annual events, including Taste of Grampian at Thainstone, celebrating YoYP.