The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
The V&A at Dundee will open on Saturday September 15. The museum is estimated to attract half a million visitors to the city in its first year.
V&A Dundee’s opening in September will be ‘game-changer’ for city, says tourism chief
The long-awaited opening of the V&A at Dundee in September will usher in a “new era” of tourism in Scotland, it was claimed yesterday.
It was announced the Kengo-Kuma designed museum will open its doors to the public on Saturday September 15.
V&A Dundee director Philip Long said it is estimated it will attract half a million visitors to Dundee in its first year and around 350,000 a year after that.
The museum is a key part of Dundee’s £1 billion waterfront regeneration project but is also expected to deliver a major boost to tourism nationally.
Malcolm Roughead, chief executive of tourism agency VisitScotland, said: “The opening of V&A Dundee will be a game-changer for tourism in Dundee, propelling the east of Scotland into the global spotlight and shining a light on all this incredible corner of the country has to offer.
“Such a highly-regarded attraction has the potential to transform local tourism and will undoubtedly draw visitors from far and wide.
“This represents an unprecedented opportunity to showcase Scotland’s cultural offering, in turn growing the local economy, creating jobs and sustaining communities.
“With prestigious publications such as The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg and The Guardian all naming Dundee as a must-visit destination in 2018, there is a real sense of excitement and anticipation in the region.
“As we move toward September, VisitScotland will continue working closely with V&A Dundee and the wider industry to capitalise on what promises to be a remarkable new era for tourism in Scotland.”
Plans for the V&A were first made public in 2007 and the museum was originally supposed to open in 2014. But construction did not start until January the following year and Dundee City Council bosses revealed the cost of building the museum had soared from £45 million to £80.1m.
Construction finally began in March 2015 when a huge cofferdam was created, allowing the museum to be built out over the Tay.
Dundee City Council leader John Alexander said yesterday: “Our city is now receiving high-profile international attention and confirmation of the opening date for V&A Dundee will boost this further.
“This is an exciting day to look forward to for people in Dundee and visitors alike.
“I would like to thank everyone involved in the huge team effort to construct the building, which is an amazing feat of engineering, and to curate such fascinating design displays.
“This date marks the opening of an exciting new chapter for our city, as we strive to provide new economic opportunities and make Dundee a better place for everyone.”
North East Scotland Conservative MSP Bill Bowman said: “I am thrilled that the Dundee V&A is so close to us now.
“This will have a transformative effect on the city and its surroundings.
“When a tourist arrives in Scotland and other parts of the UK, I think they will say ‘take me to Dundee’.”
Scottish Government Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop said: “V&A Dundee will be a major addition to Scotland’s already strong collection of museums and visitor attractions.
“It is the flagship of Dundee’s waterfront development, and will act as a magnet for the city’s regeneration, attracting inward investment and tourism, not to mention the jobs created during the construction phase and beyond.”
Dundee-based Labour MSP Jenny Marra said: “The announcement of an opening date for the V&A Dundee is welcome and exciting.
“I’m sure people are looking forward to the doors opening and seeing what it has to offer. We need to make sure that the museum will reap benefits for everyone in the city.”
Angus Conservative MP Kirstene Hair said: “I am confident it will act as a focal point for the area and will encourage a boost in tourism that will be of great benefit for all of Tayside, including Angus.”