Cruise Scotland launched

Scotland’s Minister for Tourism, Jim Mather, said that Scotland is becoming an increasingly popular destination for cruise ships and the Scottish industry is set to take full advantage as a result of this exciting new initiative.

The industry-led organisation, which is also supported by Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Scottish Development International, Scottish Enterprise and VisitScotland, was exhibiting at the Miami show. With recruitment ongoing, Cruise Scotland members to date include: Aberdeen Harbour Board; Argyll & Bute Council (Oban); Clydeport Operations Ltd (Greenock); Cruise Highlands Ltd (Invergordon); Excursions Ltd (Edinburgh); Highland Council (Portree); Lerwick Port Authority; Morrison Tours (Leith); Orkney Cruise Services; Orkney Harbours; Peterhead Port Authority; Scrabster Harbour Trust; Stornoway Port Authority; and Ullapool Harbour Trust.
Scottish ports already serve various itineraries, from trans-Atlantic, North Atlantic and North West Europe cruises, to round-Britain and niche markets, such as golf and bird and marine life watchers.
With an initial three-year marketing strategy, Cruise Scotland is looking to expand its market by 10% year-on-year. Scotland enjoyed a 48% share, worth more than £37 million, of all cruise ship calls in the UK in 2008, when a record 377 ships and around 202,000 passengers arrived in Scottish ports. The larger vessels now operating add further to the significance of higher vessel numbers. By comparison, Scottish ports handled 169 cruise ships and 64,902 passengers in 1998.