Dundee becoming a serious cruise destination is a hugely welcome step for the city's economy, and the fact that cruise tourism is being developed is an incredible opportunity.
With more and more ships arriving, thousands of passengers are disembarking on our shores—each one of them a potential visitor, spender, and booster of the local economy.
The challenge now is to ensure that cruise tourists don't just pass through Dundee but stay on to explore all the city has to give.
The recent comments of local port director Derek Knox highlight the role that the future Eden Project Dundee can play in cementing the city's status as a world-class cruise destination.
As a centre of sustainability, biodiversity, and learning, the Eden Project will attract global attention, making Dundee an even more appealing destination for international cruise lines.
But as important an attraction as the Eden Project will be, it is only one piece of the puzzle.
Dundee already boasts a rich cultural and maritime heritage that is equally deserving of attention. The HMS Unicorn, one of the world's oldest ships, is hoping to build towards receive an exciting redevelopment with Project Safe Haven, which will have the ship relocated to the East Graving Dock as part of a major regeneration scheme.
This project will not only safeguard a significant part of Dundee's heritage but also create a new visitor attraction in the very heart of the waterfront.
Similarly, Discovery Point, home to the iconic RRS Discovery, has been evolving with its own redevelopment.
The 2022 addition of the Discovery Dome is already enhancing the attraction's popularity, and with further developments planned, it can be an even bigger draw for those arriving by sea.
With Ambassador Cruise Line already featuring Dundee as one of its regional ports, there is a real chance for the city to capitalise on this momentum. The task ahead is to ensure that cruise tourists do not view Dundee as simply a stop-off but as a destination in its own right.
That means further promotion of our city's assets, greater engagement with the local business community, and greater encouragement to persuade the tourists to leave the ships and visit our museums, restaurants, and shops.
As Dundee's cruise industry is poised to continue to grow, the opportunity for economic growth is clear. By investing in attractions like HMS Unicorn, Discovery Point, and the Eden Project, the city can position itself as a leader in Scotland's maritime tourism sector.
This is not merely an issue of bringing more ships into port—it is an issue of making the city thrive as a result.
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