- TOURISM DELEGATES VISIT ORKNEY AND SHETLAND -

NorthLink Ferries is delighted to welcome this year’s VisitScotland expo (Wednesday, April 21 and Thursday, April 22) to Aberdeen. It is the first time the travel trade exhibition has been held in the north east since 1989.

The ferry operator is capitalising on the exhibition’s proximity by giving delegates the chance to experience first-hand the holiday opportunities available in Orkney and Shetland.

With members of the global travel industry descending upon Aberdeen for the two-day show, NorthLink will showcase its ships and the picturesque islands of Orkney and Shetland during trips to both island groups.

At the exhibition’s close, more than 50 tourism delegates – variously tour operators, travel agents and press - will board MV Hrossey and set sail for the Northern Isles on a trip that will give them a taste of what visitors to the islands can expect.

Passengers have been given the option of sailing to the Orkney port of Kirkwall or to Lerwick in Shetland. Thirty opted for the shorter trip to the Orkney Isles, with an additional 20 travelling the extra distance to visit Shetland. Full itineraries, taking in a range of activities, have been planned for both trips.

Elaine Tulloch of NorthLink Ferries, said: “With thousands of members of the travel trade coming to Aberdeen en masse for the first time in 15 years, we were very keen to grasp the opportunity to demonstrate the quality of our service and the beauty of the Northern Isles themsleves.

”For those delegates who couldn’t manage the trips due to time constraints, we are holding a drinks reception on board MV Hjaltland on Wednesday lunchtime. The beauty of the expo being in Aberdeen, is that rather than simply telling people about our vessels and the islands we serve, we can invite them to see and experience them for themselves.”

Changes made by NorthLink to timetables and fares, coupled with the quality of the vessels themselves, have contributed significantly to success being enjoyed by the holiday and cruise tour packages NorthLink provides for groups and individuals. Last year, more than 200 tourist coaches made trips to the Northern Isles during the summer season, and NorthLink is well on target to surpass this figure during the 2004 summer period.

Visitors attending the VisitScotland expo at the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre (AECC) on Wednesday, April 21 and Thursday, April 22 can meet NorthLink personnel at stands D6, D7 and D8.