Discovery Point recorded its highest ever proportion of foreign visitors last month thanks to Dundee’s new air links with Amsterdam.
More than 8,000 people visited the centre in August, with more than a third of them – over 3,000 people – coming from abroad.
The rise has been attributed to the successful introduction of direct flights between Amsterdam and Dundee.
The boost was announced as delegates from Dundee City Council and Dundee Heritage Trust visit the Dutch city on Tuesday as part of a VisitScotland delegation to bring more tourists from mainland Europe to Dundee.
Paul Jennings, executive director of Dundee Heritage Trust, said: “It is quite important for us. Obviously the direct route between Amsterdam and Dundee has been extremely helpful.
“In August, I think we had the highest number of international visitors coming to Discovery Point, which is really significant.”
Mr Jennings said he hopes the VisitScotland trip to Amsterdam will help secure more business from the £76 million Dutch tourism market for Dundee and the wider Tayside and Fife areas.
He said its current tourist attractions, the impending arrival of the V&A and such a “wide variety” of landscapes within a short distance of the city will make it increasingly attractive to international visitors.
Of the 8,000-plus visitors to Discovery Point in August, 24% came from the EU and 13% from countries outside the EU.
Visitors from overseas normally account for a fifth of visitors.
Verdant Works also experienced a boost in international visitor numbers, with 23% of its 2,000 visits coming from overseas tourists.
The event, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, will see representatives meet with key Dutch tourism companies.
Behind the USA, Germany and France, the Netherlands is Scotland’s fourth biggest overseas market, with the country welcoming 157,000 visitors in 2015.
The Netherlands has a number of direct air links to Scotland, including Flybe’s six-times-a-week service between Amsterdam and Dundee, which was launched in May and will go up to seven days a week in November.
Dundee City Council and Doubletree by Hilton (Dundee) are also taking part in the mission.
Councillor Will Dawson, city development convener, said: “This is another great opportunity to get the our message out to tour operators from the Netherlands and build on the reputation that Scotland has as a tourist destination.
“We have a lot to speak about in terms of Dundee and the surrounding area as a superb place for people to come and visit.
“This gives us the chance to highlight the many attractions that our region has to offer and we are determined to use this chance to sell Dundee and the surrounding area to a new audience.
“I am particularly pleased that this event comes hot on the heels of the announcement of expanded air links between Dundee and Amsterdam and look forward to welcoming more visitors to our region in the future.”
Malcolm Roughead, chief executive of VisitScotland, said: “VisitScotland supports industry in their aspirations to internationalise and to attract more business and income from international markets.
“Our mission to Amsterdam is a cost-effective way for Scottish businesses to maintain existing relationships and to establish new ones with Dutch tour operators.
“Worth nearly £80 million a year, the Netherlands is a key market for Scottish tourism.”
