First visit by cruise ship to Highlands since start of the coronavirus pandemic is 'big step' towards recovery of badly-hit tourism industry
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The imminent arrival of the first cruise ship to the Highlands since the start of the pandemic is being hailed as a "significant" step by business and hospitality leaders.
The Marella Explorer 2 is due to arrive at the Port of Cromarty Firth on Sunday.
It follows the Scottish Government’s easing of coronavirus restrictions, including the reopening of the country’s ports to cruise ships on UK-only sailings.
Lerwick in Shetland welcomed the first cruise ship in Scotland on Monday, and as Invergordon now prepares for the arrival of Marella Explorer 2, business leaders say it is an important step towards the recovery of the region’s badly-hit tourism sector.
Passengers will only be permitted ashore on organised sightseeing excursions visiting places such as Loch Ness, Cawdor Castle and Culloden Moor, Dornoch and Dunrobin Castle.
Inverness firm D&E Coaches is providing seven coaches – its first activity in the cruise market for 18 months. But hopes remain high in Inverness that more ships will follow and bring a much-needed boost to city shops, cafés and restaurants and other attractions as passengers are allowed more freedom.
D&E managing director Donald Mathieson said the company was carrying 6000 cruise line passengers a year until the pandemic struck and wiped out its 2020 bookings almost overnight.
"Sunday’s activity is a milestone as it ends a long wait for us," he said.
"It’s too soon yet to predict what volume of cruise passenger traffic we can anticipate for the rest of this year.
"We’ll have to be cautious in view of changing coronavirus restrictions and assess things as we go forward.
"But, after so long with nothing happening in this sector, it’s good to be working in it again."
Paula Nicol, deputy chief executive of Inverness Chamber of Commerce, said the ship’s stop-off was a positive sign.
"I am sure the tourism sector right across the Highlands will be looking closely and hoping it is a sign of further ships to come," she said.
"We all know tourism has been very badly affected by the pandemic. Cruise ships are an important part of that mix."
Mike Smith, manager of Inverness Business Improvement District (BID), said: "It feels fantastic. It is a really big step."
Although Loch Ness tourism leader Willie Cameron welcomed the return of a cruise ship, he was baffled why passengers were restricted to an organised excursion.
"It seems a bit ridiculous," he said.
"There are folk here from all over the UK going about as normal. The cruise ship passengers are probably better protected against Covid-19 than people here at the present time."
But Norman MacDonald, the owner of Café One in Castle Street, Inverness, said: "It is perhaps not the total progress we would like, but it is probably sensible and pragmatic. Hopefully, that will develop and we will see more cruise ships arrive."
Bruce MacGregor, of MacGregor’s Bar in Academy Street, said it was great to see cruise ships return.
"As long as the visitors are adhering to our guidelines and laws then it’s a very welcome addition," he said.
Economist Tony Mackay said the cruise liner business has become very important for the wider Highland economy, particularly since the downturn in the offshore oil and gas industry.
"I think it will be 2022 before the cruise liner business returns to normal, but this first cruise ship since 2019 is undoubtedly an encouraging sign that the tourism industry is recovering," he said.
Looking to the future of the cruise ship market, David Richardson, the Highlands and Islands development manager for the Federation of Small Businesses, called for recommendations in a report published nine months ago for VisitScotland, Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and the Scottish Government to be implemented.
"We need to see more joined-up thinking, coordination, leadership and investment if we are to gain maximum, sustainable benefit from the opportunities afforded by this important market," he said.
Related story: UK-only cruise ships return to Scotland
