The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Donald from Skye learns Mandarin to spread word
Character in move to make island information more accessible
He is known for his chirpy advice – but now lovable cartoon character Donald from Skye has flown the nest to China.
Donald has learned Mandarin in a move to make information about the Isle of Skye and Scotland more accessible to Chinese visitors.
The animated ambassador of Skye, launched in November 2018 by developer Calum MacDonald and his team, is now translating the Donald from Skye website into Chinese, in order to assist the growing number of Chinese visitors to the island.
Figures released by Visit Scotland in October 2018 show 62,000 visitors came to Scotland from China in 2017, contributing a total of £256 million to the economy.
Skye businessman Calum MacDonald, whose brainchild was the creation of Donald, said: “This was always our plan from day one to branch out to visitors from China as we have experienced a massive jump with the large numbers of visitors on Skye.
“We established there wasn’t really much for Chinese visitors to display information about Skye and Scotland.
“Donald has been received amazingly well and the reception from the people of Skye has been remarkable, and in particular the Donalds, which I am surprised about.”
It is hoped that by translating the website into Mandarin, further visitors will flock to the Hebridean Isle from East Asia.
The website has also been updated with information relating to where to hire cars, ferry and bus timetables and where to locate fuel and charging facilities included.
Plans are also in place to include every business and hotspot on Skye free of charge, with Mr MacDonald stating the website has been designed solely “with the tourist in mind”.
Donald from Skye has himself provided comment, saying: “I love telling people from all over the world about the beautiful Isle of Skye so to be able to tell people in China what Skye has to offer is brilliant!
“Whether they need help booking accommodation, finding activities, details on where to park or where to eat, I’m the man to ask!”
Further translations into other languages, including Gaelic, are planned with the hope for Donald to grow into a well-travelled global superstar.
A series of fresh images of Donald on his travels to China have been shared on social media, with Donald and his trusty companion Fergie the tractor visiting various popular landmarks in China searching for Shijin Cheng – the translator of the Donald from Skye website.
The translated version of the website goes live today.
“Donald has been received amazingly well”