Major Scottish ports promoting cruising
Ferry Online Travel News 09/02/2009
Many of the country’s ports are joining forces to promote Scotland as a cruise destination.
The ports have formed a group called Cruise Scotland, which will be formally launched at the Miami international sea trade show next month and will participate in the Hamburg show in September as well.
Cruise Scotland’s three-year marketing plan calls for the development of a website and a brochure to attract interest from the international cruise industry to Scotland’s ports.
Richard Alexander, the group’s chairman, is the managing director of Morrisons Tours, which organizes shore excursions for cruise operators and also provides ground handling services. He has said that there is a real opportunity to bring more visitors to the country through the cruise sector.
Alexander noted: "The number of cruise ships operating in North Europe continues to grow and Scotland must be in a position to compete with other destinations to ensure operators include our ports in their itineraries. With the pound weaker against the US dollar and euro, there is now even greater scope to encourage the cruise lines to choose Scotland in their cruise programmes."
According to The Herald, 14 ports have either joined the group or are considering joining, including: Leith, Invergordon, Scrabster, Kirkwall, Lerwick, Stornoway, Portree, Oban and Greenock.
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