Building a resilient economy is vital

This week brought welcome news regarding the rocketing number of travellers to include a stop-off in Dundee on their itinerary.

The city, it appears, is in the midst of a tourism boom, with a 10% year-on-year rise in visitor numbers recorded.

There are, of course, many spin-off benefits – not just for Dundee but also the surrounding area.

It is hoped that visitor numbers will soar yet further in coming months and years, with the long-anticipated V&A museum set to fling open its doors to the world next month.

To really capitalise on the current halo effect, however, both Dundee and its environs must ensure the area is not just a wonderful place to visit, but also an enviable place in which to live and work.

Job creation will be essential.

A growth in tourism will bring its own benefits in terms of employment, but there must also be sustainable, homegrown opportunities from which locals can benefit.

News today of over 120 new BT jobs in Dundee is welcome indeed.

The firm already has a strong base in the city, and the new roles will provide not only fresh opportunities but also additional comfort and security for the many already employed locally.

One hopes it is a sign of a strengthening, increasingly resilient, economy that will be so vital in the crucial months ahead.