The annual tourism awards were held at a gala dinner on Friday 11th November and were a celebration of the achievements of the tourism industry in this corner of Scotland. In the Best Visitor Attraction Experience category, the aquarium was up against some tough competition, with other nominations being the Aberdeen Science Centre and the Aberdeen Art Gallery.
This was the second time the aquarium has won the award - first time was in 2015 - and it was the first time the awards have been held since the pandemic. The judges mentioned they were impressed by the aquarium's online presence during the pandemic and also commented that they really liked the ethos of the aquarium's focus on the area rather than the business. Judges also noted that the aquarium is alive to the challenges that its potential customers are facing with the cost of living challenges, which is great for inclusivity. The award was kindly sponsored by Aberdeen Airport.
As a winner in the regional awards, the aquarium automatically goes forward for the national Tourism Awards next February - the Oscars of the tourism industry, the Scottish Thistle Awards. Fingers, fins and tentacles crossed for them representing us on the national stage!