The future has arrived in Aberdeen, sailing in last week in the shape of a mahoosive ship with a big colourful eye on its bow.
Because, make no mistake, the cruise liner AIDAaura calling at the Granite City’s spanking new South Harbour is just the opening line of a whole new chapter in the story of the north-east.
The hunners of tourists who spilled down the gangway and onto a fleet of buses and taxis waiting to whisk them across the region will be the first of thousands, and then hundreds of thousands. Aberdeen and the north-east have just arrived on the cruise ship map of the world, and that is A Very Big Deal.
For decades now, everyone in the region has been talking about tourism as the new oil – an industry with the potential to become a bedrock of our economy, offering glittering opportunities for prosperity and growth.
We all know what we’ve got here: history, culture, golf, a gateway to whisky country, Royal Deeside, soaring mountains, stunning seascapes, the finest in food and drink, and more castles than you can name.
The question was always how to get UK and foreign visitors to break out of the Central Belt and come here to discover it. Not just for themselves, of course, but for all the family and friends back home they will encourage to visit.
A huge part of the answer arrived on Tuesday, when that big boat berthed at the new dock. The impact was immediate and obvious. Just look at Dunnottar Castle which, on the day AIDAaura docked, found itself catering to four coachloads of passengers, enjoying the delights of this ancient fortress.
But let’s not forget that getting visitors here is just our starter for 10. We have to ensure Aberdeen and the whole of the north-east not only maintain the quality and attraction of what they have to offer, but also up their game.
We all have a part to play
Every restaurant, pub, tourist attraction and visitor experience now needs to remember that they are in the spotlight and must shine brightly, so word-of-mouth isn’t just good, it’s compelling.
It’s not only up to businesses, though. We all have a part to play: every one of us.
Places are judged by the people who live there. Visitors will remember warm and friendly folk – and they won’t forget surly and dour denizens. Which is why we all need to make our new guests feel welcome and wanted.
For example, when I first arrived in Calgary, you couldn’t take out a map or look at your phone for directions without attracting a crowd of folk, helping steer you in the right direction and sending you on your way with a headful of recommendations on what to do and where to visit.
The Canadian city even had a slogan to encourage locals to make visiting as pleasant as memorable and possible. I’ll just leave it here for the good people of Aberdeen and the Shire to mull over. “Smile… you’re a tourist attraction.”
Scott Begbie is a former journalist and editor for The Press & Journal and Evening Express
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