THE head of CruiseForth spoke at an international cruise conference in Miami recently.
The organisation was launched in 2011 to promote Dunfermline to guests arriving at Rosyth.
CruiseForth started with four well-intentioned volunteers standing at the port, as passengers disembarked from the huge liners that sailed along the river.
It now manages a team of 50 volunteers across four Forth ports, and operates a courtesy bus from the Port of Rosyth to Dunfermline.
Peter Wilson, who leads the project, was invited to contribute as part of an international panel at the event in the USA recently.
He told the Press: “I think it was pretty successful.
“For the first time I was asked to be on a panel and our profile was raised and that invitation came directly from the cruise conference we held in the Glen Pavilion.”
As previously reported in the Press, Scotland’s Cruise Conference 2024 was held in Dunfermline last year, more than 80 delegates attended the event.
There will be 125 cruise ships arriving on the Forth and Tay this year, with the first of 23 calls at Rosyth arriving on May 5.
One weekend last year saw CruiseForth volunteers welcome more than 600 passengers and crew members to Rosyth.
Peter added: “We know the number of ships that are coming so those are booked in and we see about the same number this year as we had last year, but what has been happening is the work the volunteers do and the opportunity of the cruise business, those do lead to a greater demand for the bus service.”
While the organisation aims to promote Dunfermline to visitors, Fife Council could be given the power to tax cruise ship operators under plans being considered by the Scottish Government.
The Scottish Parliament passed the Visitor Levy Act last year, which allows a tax to be charged on certain overnight stays.
This does not cover cruise ships. However, the government are exploring giving councils new powers to charge a cruise ship levy.
Peter explained: “The problem with the latter is the lack of clarity as to how this might work given the existing legislation provides for different councils, how they deal with the opportunity to impose overnight tax, whether it be on hotels or potential cruise ship passengers.
“The uncertainty may have a detrimental effect to cruise companies... it's unclear how that will play out."
READ MORE: CruiseForth creates video on Dunfermline's Heritage Quarter
Now, the organisation is preparing to hold a briefing event for businesses on what opportunities could arise from cruise ship calls in Rosyth.
It will be held in the Canmore House Bar and Restaurant in Dunfermline on Friday, April 25 from 10.30am until noon.
Businesses that would like to attend can email info@cruiseforth.com to register their interest.
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