A tourism chief has hailed ambitious plans for a cable car service stretching above the Aberdeen skyline as a potential rival for San Francisco’s world-famous trams as a unique visitor attraction.
Architect Chris Smith unveiled his vision to have cable cars connecting the city centre to the beach and harbour area as a way to rejuvenate the city.
The cars would be positioned at the beach, the Citadel and Nigg Bay. The idea was “extremely well received” when it was presented to a group of 150 businessmen and women in the city last week.
Planning convener Marie Boulton described it as a “credible and extremely exciting idea” while Aberdeen Inspired chief executive Adrian Watsonhailed it as “bold and ambitious” project. The harbour board said it was “inspiring”.
And now Andrew Martin, director of the Scottish Centre for Tourism at Robert Gordon University, said if the idea becomes a reality it could help boost the Aberdeen’s profile in the same way the Eden Project increased tourism in Cornwall.
Mr Martin, who is also vice-chairman of Aberdeen City and Shire Hotel Association, said: “We really need an iconic attraction in Aberdeen, because we are sorely lacking something to differentiate the city from others in Scotland, and the rest of the UK.
“When you consider the Eden Project in Cornwall, that totally transformed the entire region with the sheer volume of tourists it brings in, and something similarly unique and incredible as that would be equally transformative for the Granite City.”
The cable car idea was presented at the Vanguard conference in Aberdeen last week, where industry leaders gathered to discuss ways of giving the city the “wow” factor.
If it goes ahead, not only would it provide easy access to the city centre – and skyline views for those arriving on cruise liners at the newly-expanded harbour – it would also help regenerate the Castlegate, beach and Nigg bay areas.
Mr Martin added: “Right now, we have no true idea of the scale of just how big the cruise tourism industry will be in Aberdeen once the harbour extension project is complete.
“But however large it turns out to be, allowing cruise tourists to catch a cable car directly into the centre, taking in spectacular views of the harbour and the fantastic granite skyline, would truly be incredible.
“And if this tourist attraction could also prove to be a reliable form of public transport for the city’s residents, then that’s twice as good.
“When I visited San Fransico, even though I really didn’t need to, I absolutely had to go on the city’s famous trams, and I think this could be the same in Aberdeen.
“This sounds very creative, and quite exciting.”
