The world-famous Tall Ships could soon be on their way back to Aberdeen for the first time in 20 years.
Some 500,000 visitors flocked to welcome the spectacular vessels when they last docked in the Granite City in 1997, boosting the local economy by around £13million.
And now the council is hopeful it could bring a similar cash injection while raising the city’s profile.
Next week, members of the finance committee will debate their events strategy for the next three years.
The local authority could plough as much as £5million into projects to boost the “cultural offering” of the north-east.
Alongside the usual favourites like the Spectra festival of light, Aberdeen jazz festival, and the Highland Games, a whole list of new events have been put forward.
These include the Great Aberdeen Run, which will be held for the first time next August, and the North Sea Tall Ship regatta.
The Press and Journal understands the organisers of potential events have not yet been contacted.
Finance convener Willie Young said he wanted the Granite City to become a “focal point” in Scotland for culture.
He said: “It is so important that Aberdeen continues to invest in itself, that is why this administration asked officers to bring forward a report into developing and enhancing our events strategy.
“Aberdeen has many festivals which we are extremely proud of such as the award-winning Spectra, Aberdeen International Youth Festival and the jazz festival to name a few.
“There are however opportunities out there to build upon these successes. That is why it is important that we look again to get the tall ships back to Aberdeen, which was a huge success the last
time they visited the city.
“I want to continue investing in Aberdeen and that is why we should look at an expansive programme of events over the next five years to ensure that Aberdeen is the focal point of Scotland when it comes to our cultural offering.”
The Tall Ships Race aims to boost training for young people in the art of sailing from across the globe.
They are held annually in European waters and consists of two racing legs of several hundred nautical miles.
The 2017 list of cities they will visit is made up of Halmstad, Sweden; Kotka, Finland; Turku, Finland; Klaipeda, Lithuania; and Szczecin, Poland..
Earlier this month, the £415million Aberdeen harbour expansion project took another step closer when it received consent for dredging and construction.
It is hoped the expansion at Nigg Bay could accommodate larger boats, such as cruise liners.
Andrew Martin, vice-chairman of the Aberdeen and Shire Hoteliers Association and director of the Scottish Centre for Tourism at Robert Gordon University, welcomed the prospect of the tall ships last night.
He said: “I remember the ships last time they were in town and it was a great occasion for the whole city.
“It put Aberdeen on the map and we are lucky to be in the fairly unique position to have harbour facilities that could let us host this.
“We can do more with that part of town to draw visitors and I think it’s something we must do.”
But SNP finance spokesman Graham Dickson questioned potentially spending taxpayers’ cash at a time of austerity.
He said: “In a time of extreme austerity, when some of my constituents are struggling to feed themselves and using foodbanks, it’s hard to justify spending this money on a yacht race.
“It’s baffling to think the administration would propose such an ostentatious display of wealth when the city is struggling.”
