CULTURAL TOURISM IN DUNDEE RECEIVES BOOST FROM SCOTTISH ENTERPRISE

Published

23rd February 2017

Five new cultural tourism initiatives are to receive support from the ‘Dundee Cultural Tourism Innovation Fund’.

Set up by Scottish Enterprise and Dundee City Council in 2016, the ‘Dundee Cultural Tourism Fund’ awards grants to local businesses and individuals with ideas to develop new tourism focused experiences centred around historical heritage, cultural heritage and contemporary culture.

The first round of projects to receive financial support from the fund will include a walking tour of Dundee’s cultural venues with ‘behind-the-scenes’ access; pre-booked tours of the city’s heritage visitor attractions; a ‘Day in Dundee’ visitor package created for the travel trade sector; a GPS audio tour focusing on Dundee’s unique design stories and a feasibility study into creating a new temporary venue on Slessor Gardens to host events during Dundee’s annual Jazz Festival and in the run-up to Christmas.

Cultural Heritage Tours

Dundee Cultural Heritage Tours will offer packaged tours of cultural attractions for visitors to pre-book. Operated by Dundee Museum of Transport and Airport Travel Dundee and working with other local visitor attractions including Verdant Works, HM Frigate Unicorn and RRS Discovery, visitors will gain an insight into the cultural heritage of Dundee culminating in a trip to the top of ‘The Law’ to enjoy a bird’s eye view of the city. 

Behind the Scenes Dundee

A new guided walking tour focused on behind the scenes access to many of Dundee’s cultural venues and attractions as well as visits to creative studios, independent shops and public art. Developed by Creative Dundee and Dundee Contemporary Arts, the tours will be coordinated by Creative Dundee and ticketed through DCA Box Office, and aimed at audiences looking for a rich cultural experience when they visit the city. 

Dundee Design Details

Dundee’s hidden design gems such as murals, unusual architectural features and typography will be the focus of a new GPS based audio tour identifying and telling the stories behind Dundee’s existing and unusual design features. The digital project led by designers Ryan McLeod and Lyall Bruce will create points of interest for visitors that would otherwise go unnoticed.

A Day in Dundee

‘A Day in Dundee’ visitor experience packages will be created for the travel trade and tour operator sector to stimulate interest in Dundee as an ideal destination for cultural short breaks. Dundee Science Centre and Dundee Rep are working in partnership to develop themed packages with the aim of attracting new visitors to the city.  

Spiegeltent on Slessor Gardens

Dundee Rep and Dundee Jazz Festival will develop plans to site a temporary ‘Spiegeltent’ on Dundee’s Slessor Gardens in November to provide an additional venue for Dundee’s annual Jazz Festival.  The ‘Spiegeltent’ could then be developed into a ‘festive village’ as a destination for a number of pre-Christmas activities in December.

The five new projects were announced at a Scottish Enterprise hosted business breakfast focused on cultural tourism opportunities in Dundee.

Delegates attending the event were the first to receive the new ‘Culture and Creative Business Opportunity Guide’ produced by Business Tourism Solutions offering practical advice and tips to capitalise on Dundee’s cultural assets. 

A second round of funding from the ‘Dundee Cultural Tourism Innovation Fund’ will open in May 2017. Applications are welcome from businesses already working in the tourism sector including accommodation, events and festivals, food and drink, transport and visitor attractions and from those currently outside the sector, but with a good idea to develop the city’s Cultural Tourism proposition.

Paul McCafferty, Tourism Manager at Scottish Enterprise said:

“Cultural tourism represents one of the largest and fastest growing sectors of tourism globally. The opening of the V&A Museum of Design Dundee in 2018 brings an internationally recognised brand to Dundee, boosting the creative and cultural infrastructure of the city.  A strong cultural tourism proposition, drawing on Dundee’s range of cultural assets, independent restaurants, vibrant creative sector, and strong events and festivals programme will be key to attracting visitors over the coming years. 

The Cultural Tourism Fund is intended to support the development of new products and experiences in the city.  We are delighted with the quality and variety of ideas that were submitted in January and look forward to seeing each of them being developed further.” 

Will Dawson, Convenor for Dundee One City, Many Discoveries said: 

“The Dundee Cultural Tourism Fund was created in support of Dundee’s 2015 Tourism Strategy which aims for Dundee to be recognised as the best up and coming city in the UK for cultural short breaks. 

Cultural experiences are integral to the quality of visitors’ impressions of Dundee, providing unique and memorable experiences that help the city stand out against competitors.”

For further information about the Dundee Cultural Tourism Innovation Fund please visit www.scottish-enterprise.com or contact louise.tobin@scotent.co.uk

Scottish Enterprise

Identify and exploit opportunities for Scotland\'s economic growth by supporting Scottish companies to compete, helping to build globally competitive sectors, attracting new investment and creating a world-class business environment.

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