Fans jump to the defence of under-fire Aberdeen

ABERDEEN has been named as one of the top 10 most unfriendly cities in the UK.

But today proud Aberdeen fans defended the city, insisting people were shy, not surly.

And tourism experts said the survey – which put Aberdeen in seventh place – did not poll enough people to make the unfriendly claims.

Around 100 people in Aberdeen were asked questions, including whether they were friendly to tourists – and more than half admitted they could make more effort.

But depute council leader Cllr Kevin Stewart today claimed the survey was flawed because people from Aberdeen do not typically blow their own trumpets.

He said: “Aberdonians don’t sell themselves very well.

“But Aberdeen is a friendly and welcoming city and if it wasn’t people wouldn’t stay here, as so many do.”

The survey claimed one-in-six Aberdonians would ignore a tourist asking for directions.

The poll showed one-in-four people in Aberdeen forget to say “please” when asking for something.

And one-in-three Aberdonians would queue-jump if no-one was looking, according to the survey.

A VisitScotland spokeswoman was today unconvinced a poll of 113 people, carried out on behalf of Jurys Inn, was representative of the whole of Aberdeen.

She said: “Aberdeen is a fantastic city and the best advice is for people to come and visit for themselves and experience our great hospitality.”

Culture, education and sport committee vice convener Cllr Martin Greig said he found the ranking “very hard to believe”.

He said: “I very much doubt the value of this survey – 113 is not enough people to give you a valid conclusion.”

jmckiernan@ajl.co.uk