The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
The future’s so bright, city’s gotta wear shades
Campaign launched to promote City of Discovery
Arrivals at Dundee Airport saw the launch of a colourful tourism drive as the city prepares for one of its busiest summers in recent history.
The start of Sunny Dundee coincided with the hottest day of the year so far, celebrating the fact the City of Discovery has more hours of sunshine than any other Scottish city.
Thousands of pairs of yellow-framed sunglasses will be given away as part of the initiative, ensuring tourists and locals are summer-ready for their time in the city.
A record number of visitors are expected to travel to Dundee via rail, road, sea and air to enjoy a packed calendar of sporting events, outdoor concerts, cultural exhibitions and parades in the lead-up to the V&A opening in September.
John Alexander, leader of Dundee City Council, said: “This is a hugely exciting time for Dundee. It might be Scotland’s sunniest city but according to the world’s media, Dundee is definitely one of the coolest places to be in 2018.
“Sunny Dundee is a great slogan to celebrate the city during such a significant year and will help promote the city’s position as Scotland’s ray of sunshine.”
In attendance at Dundee Airport and representing a few of the 2018 headline events were karate instructor Roy O’Kane of the World Karate Championships, which will take place in Dundee, as well as V&A ‘design champion’ Kirsty Stevens and Stuart Wilson, managing secretary of Forfar Golf Club.
As part of the Sunny Dundee campaign, businesses and members of the public are encouraged to share their photographs on social media using the #SunnyDundee hashtag.
The sunglasses will be available from locations across the city, including the McManus, the DCA, the VisitScotland information centre in City Square and Dundee Airport.
Although the sunglasses are free to collect, the campaign is hoping to support a local charity, the cancer care centre Maggie’s Dundee, by asking people to donate £1 per pair.
Design champion Kirsty, who graduated from Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design, said: “My role is to promote the V&A and design in general. I was asked to come and help with the Sunny Dundee campaign and it’s an honour.
“I love Dundee; I studied and lived here, and although I’m a Fifer now, I always come back here.”