2.27 More tourists need to be drawn to the North East where there is potential to expand its market, particularly for family, short stay and special interest holidays. The North East excels in this respect, being strongly linked to outdoor and countryside pursuits such as skiing, golfing, walking, fishing and climbing. The mountains, lochs, coastline, wildlife, scenery and architecture are major quality attractions for tourists to the North East and future tourism development requires to maintain and safeguard these resources in order to continue to make the area attractive to visitors.

2.28 Business tourism plays an important role in bringing financial benefit to the North East, maintaining jobs and creating new employment opportunities. Venues such as the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre and the many hotels in the area attract a variety of business-related conferences. The structure plan and local plans must seek to encourage and support the tourist industry in the North East, whilst continuing to foster environmental awareness of the impact of tourist development on the built and natural environment. For tourism to prosper in the North East and bring new employment opportunities, particularly to rural areas, it requires to be supported by a first class transportation infrastructure.

Figure 2  Working in the North East