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NorthLink Ferries will once again showcase the excellent holidays on offer in the Northern Isles when travel industry representatives from around the world descend upon Aberdeen next month.

This year's VisitScotland Expo is expected to attract more than 1,000 decision makers from the global tourism market. NorthLink is capitalising on the Expo's arrival in the north east of Scotland by offering journalists and members of the travel trade industry the opportunity to experience for themselves the quality and comfort offered on-board NorthLink's cruise-standard passenger ferries and the tour itineraries available.

A familiarisation trip will depart from Aberdeen on Thursday, April 14, immediately after Expo, with passengers having been given the option of sailing to the Orkney port of Kirkwall or to Lerwick in Shetland. A full-day touring itinerary will be provided on Friday, April 15 for those visiting the islands. Both trips will sail south again that evening, arriving back in Aberdeen at 7.00am on Saturday.

Those who are unable to join the fam trips on Thursday evening will nevertheless be given the opportunity to examine at close-quarters one of NorthLink's three passenger ferries, MV Hrossey, in Aberdeen harbour. Delegates will be transferred by bus to the vessel at noon on Wednesday (April 13) where there will be a short presentation and tours of the vessel, followed by a light buffet and refreshments.

Visitors attending the VisitScotland Expo at the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre (AECC) on Wednesday, April 13 and Thursday, April 14 can meet NorthLink personnel at stands E6 - E8. The company will provide a range of Orkney and Shetland produce on its stand at lunchtime on both Wednesday and Thursday.

Gareth Crichton, NorthLink's commercial director, said: "The fact that the Expo has been held in Aberdeen both this year and last is a great advantage for us. Rather than simply telling people about our service and the picturesesque locations we serve, we can help them experience these things for themselves.

"Our timetables and fares, coupled with the quality of our vessels themselves, have contributed significantly to the successes enjoyed by the holiday and cruise tour packages NorthLink provides to groups and individuals.

"We already have more than 200 coaches booked in for trips to Orkney and Shetland this year, 19 of them from a new client - Saga Tours. We're very hopeful that once those attending the fam trips have seen what NorthLink and the Northern Isles have to offer we will add further bookings to this figure."