Holiday visitor numbers to the Northern Isles look to set new records following another successful outing by NorthLink Ferries at the World Travel Market trade fair in London.

The WTM, now established as the world’s foremost business-to-business tourism show, attracted over 50,000 visitors to the ExCel Centre from November 9 - 12.

NorthLink has successfully used the WTM as the launch platform for its Group Tours guide for the past seven years and did so again this year with the 2011 brochure going down well with tour operators. The company also launched its 2010 consumer brochure at the show.

The ferry company shared a stand with VisitScotland and welcomed over 60 trade professionals eager to learn more about the Orkney and Shetland holiday experience.

NorthLink’s trade and groups reservations manager Steve Nottage said: “This year we’ve experienced record levels of business from the Group Tours sector showing a significant increase on 2008. The major players in the group tours sector have already registered their 2010 requirements and there were record levels of interest in 2011 business.”

"Many existing customers will be returning to the islands in 2010 and 2011 and, underlining the worldwide appeal of our unique destinations, new enquiries were received at the show from operators representing the USA, France, Germany, Eire, Romania and even Nigeria and, of course, the UK,” Nottage added.