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Ayrshire ports tee up for 2016 Open Golf cruise calls

Ayrshire ports tee up for 2016 Open Golf cruise calls
ABP’s ports of Ayr and Troon are set to receive a record number of cruise and super yacht calls in 2016, with this year’s Open Golf Championship at Royal Troon sparking the increase of ships to the region.

Five cruise ships and super yacht Michaela Rose are due to visit the Scottish ports of Ayr and Troon multiple times this year, including Celebrity Silhouette and Azamara Quest, which will visit Ayr on the last two days of the Open Golf Championship in July.

Over 5,000 passengers and crew members are expected to come ashore during the visits.

Grand Circle Cruise Lines' 89-passenger Clio (ex Tere Moana) will call at Ayr twice in September including a full embarkation, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises' Europa is a visitor to Ayr in August and Hebridean Princess will call at Troon in November.

Port manager for Ayr and Troon, Stuart Cresswell said: 'Cruise calls have long been an occasional business for the port but 2016 is shaping up to be an exciting year and we are really encouraged to see the spin-off business that the Open Golf Championship will provide, not only to the ports but the entire community, and we are looking forward to embarking passengers for the first time at Ayr later this year.'

Jill Cronin, head of enterprise, development and leisure at South Ayrshire Council said: 'The rise in cruise calls is good news for South Ayrshire, with the increase in numbers a welcome boost for the local economy. This summer the Open Golf championship is expected to attract 150,000 to 170,000 visitors between July 10-17.