Council proposals to cut funding for organisations set up to boost tourism will “significantly jeopardise” plans to create growth and jobs in the local economy, it was claimed yesterday.
The city council unveiled a raft of proposed budget cuts in a bid to balance the books earlier this week.
Part of the cuts would include slashing Visit Aberdeenshire’s funding by £260,000.
Chief executive, Chris Foy, fears this could lead to reduced spending in the north-east with tourists opting to go to other areas of the UK instead.
Mr Foy said: “The proposed cut to Visit Aberdeenshire’s funding will significantly jeopardise plans to create jobs and grow Aberdeen’s economy.
“Tourism is a highly competitive industry, so this cut will seriously limit Visit Aberdeenshire’s capacity to attract high spending visitors to Aberdeen, whether they would have come to an event at TECA, to see the Art Gallery, arrive on a cruise ship through the new harbour or fill empty beds in the city centre.
“With weekend hotel occupancy as low as 55% at last count, there has never been a more critical time to focus on promoting the city and helping local businesses diversify in to new markets.
“Our loss will be a gain for Belfast, Cardiff, Glasgow and Leeds to name but a few.”
Mr Foy, who helped mastermind efforts to boost tourism in London during the 2012 Olympics, added: “The potential to create over 3,700 jobs over the next four years in the city alone will not be fully realised if the city’s share of the £1billion annual spend target is not realised.
“Visit Aberdeenshire encourages councillors to revise this proposal to a settlement that ensures a sustained approach can be taken to creating jobs and prosperity in the city.”
Aberdeen Inspired, which runs events in the city including the Christmas Village and international street art festival Nuart, also faces a £47,000 cut to its budget.l
Chief executive Adrian Watson stressed that Nuart had enough financial backing to run this April, but added that talks would need to be held over its future plans if the proposed budget cuts go ahead.
He said: “The importance of tourism is a key driver for the north-east economy, and no one can deny that as a priority for the city.
“We will not be immune to the cuts, but we will do all we can to stay positive and provide for the city.
“It is a challenging landscape for the tourism industry, there is a substantial weight on the council’s shoulders to balance the books.”
Visitors to the Granite city could also be forced to pay for parking at north-east parks and forests, as well as pay entry into iconic locations such as Duthie Park and Hazlehead Park as part of the council proposals.
The council could also work to identify “more profitable” events that could be run using “prime” council venues such as the city’s museums, Town House and Beach Ballroom.
Councillor Stephen Flynn, the SNP Group Leader, said: “We are incredibly mindful of the importance of attracting people and businesses to our city and this will continue to form part of our thinking as we work towards proposing a budget next Tuesday.”
