More tourists are visiting Dundee and staying over, pouring cash into the local economy, according to the city’s tourism chiefs.
Preliminary statistics for the first half of 2017 show that the number of overnight visitors rose by 3.4% compared with the same period in 2016.
In addition, the number of daytripping visitors also rose by 6.7% compared to the same period in the previous year.
In all, visitor numbers went up by 5% from January-June 2017 from the first half of 2016.
The figures are the latest available and serve as “great indicators” for the second half of 2017 as well as now in 2018, according to Dundee’s tourism bosses.
Jennifer Caswell, team leader in city promotion at Dundee City Council, said: “We know it will be higher this year – you can see it on the streets.
“For us, the overnighters are the most important because they stay, and they spend in the city. The incremental income is great – but we want lots of day visitors too.”
City development convener Lynne Short believes the rise won’t stop there.
She said: “This is an indication of the growing popularity of Dundee for visitors.
“These figures are testament to the hard work of the council and its partners in transforming the city and its reputation.
“There is a real buzz around Dundee at the moment.
“The opening of the new railway station this week shows how far we have travelled and there is even more to come.
“Increasing numbers of people are now making the Dundee decision and finding out for themselves how cool our city is.”
Dundee’s reinvention as a cultural capital has seen it rise from a post-industrial slump to worldwide recognition from travel experts and renowned media publications such as Lonely Planet and the Wall Street Journal.
The city’s £38 million railway station entrance opened on Monday, and the opening of the V&A Dundee is now just 65 days away.
Last month, the Tele also revealed that open-top tour buses are set to return to the city after a long absence as part of the local authority’s plans to capitalise on the growing number of tourists.