Question reference: S5W-11202
- Date lodged: 11 September 2017
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Current status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 21 September 2017
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the reported increase in the number of visitors to Scotland on cruise liners, and whether the existing infrastructure has the capacity to accommodate further increases.
Answer
Scotland continues to grow in popularity as a destination and CruiseScotland members expect to welcome 656,000 passengers from 810 ships during 2017. CruiseScotland estimated that ports and their hinterlands around mainland Scotland and the islands shared a market with an estimated value of almost £56 million in 2016.
Individual ports continue to review their facilities to meet demand from their various customers and invest to make improvements where possible as business grows. Lerwick has recently completed an upgrade to its Holmsgarth jetty and Orkney has upgraded Hatston pier to improve cruise capacity. Aberdeen harbour’s recently started expansion at Nigg Bay will provide additional infrastructure which could support cruise business, Peel Ports at Greenock are looking at extending the berth to improve capacity and Port of Cromarty Firth are also considering a new cruise berth to improve the facilities.
The Scottish Government also hosted the third Scottish Cruise Summit with representatives from the global cruise industry, UK Chamber of Shipping, Cruise Scotland and their members on 21 September 2017. This was in order to explore opportunities and challenges for continued investment and further growth in the Scottish cruise sector.