Fears that new air routes will fail to take off

0 Comments | Sunday Herald, The, May 15, 2005 | by Frank Gilfeather

A TOURISM chief has warned that new air routes between Aberdeen and a number of UK and European destinations will not bring extra visitors to the northeast unless the area markets itself better.

Ian Dunlop, director of Aberdeen and Grampian Tourist Board, said that while he was excited that new routes had been secured to a number of English cities as well as to Belfast, Copenhagen, Oslo and Groningen, the private sector at home and abroad would have to play a major role in encouraging tourists from those areas to visit the northeast.

"We just have to get the message across. Most of our budget goes on local servicing and we have only about pounds-500,000 a year for marketing this area as a destination. It is a pretty small hammer to crack a very big nut." Dunlop said the aim would be to mobilise the travel trade to sell holidays in the northeast.

Royal Deeside has suffered a downturn in visitor numbers with Crathes Castle and Balmoral Estate among the worst hit. Crathes saw a drop of 7.9-per cent last year and Balmoral a decrease of 6.5-per cent.

Dunlop conceded during discussions with the Scottish Executive's Route Development Fund that the central belt is a more attractive prospect because of its greater population, but urged airlines to consider using the northeast.

He added: "It is understandable that they should opt for the highly populated areas, but I also think the decisionmakers often don't know about the potential, the strength of the business community, the strength of the product and the fact that you can arrive in Aberdeen and within half an hour you are in a country house hotel."