EDINBURGH should cement its status as a major cruise liner destination next year, with 20,000 more passengers visiting the city.
New figures published by dock operator Forth Ports reveal that at least 58 liners, including major vessels like the QE2 and the Constellation, and bringing 53,000 passengers, are expected in the Firth of Forth in 2008.
This year there were some 3
2,000, a huge rise on the 8,000 who came to the area on cruise liners seven years ago.
Many cruise liners are touring around the UK, but growing numbers are on longer trips around northern Europe, taking in the Baltic and Scandinavia.
VisitScotland estimates that cruise liner tourism is currently worth at least £30 million to the nation, but it is widely felt that the untapped potential is huge.
Edinburgh is already attracting large numbers of vessels despite not having proper cruise liner facilities.
Although the majority of liners come into Leith's Western Harbour, the bigger vessels have to drop anchor at Hound Point, off South Queensferry.
There are plans afoot to develop the city's waterfront and open Scotland's first fully-fledged cruise liner terminal.
Forth Ports is trying to build the case for a major terminal, to be built on the outskirts of the current docklands. It would be linked to the city's planned tram network, which is due to start operating in February 2011.
Although the development could cost anything up to £50 million to build, VisitScotland and Forth Ports have estimated that Leith could eventually attract about 150 vessels a year, worth £40 million.
VisitScotland's area director for Edinburgh, Ben Carter, said: "The cruise market is an increasingly important one for Edinburgh with the city now becoming well-known overseas as a quality cruising destination. It is great to hear that so many vessels are due to berth next year, and we encourage continued investment in this market to help make Scotland a must-visit, must-return destination."
Lucy Parsons, project manager at Forth Ports, said: "The on-going rise in cruise ships visiting Edinburgh is excellent news for the city's economy.
"Cruise passengers represent the premium end of the tourism sector. They tend to spend more money and often return for longer stays and act as important word-of-mouth ambassadors for Scotland."
Grahame Birse, the deputy chief executive of Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, said: "These figures underline Edinburgh's credentials as a major international destination."
The full article contains 412 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
