Tourism boost for the isles as Viking Magnus tours the Central Belt

Thursday 31st May 2018

A NorthLink Ferries advertising campaign, launched this week, sees the iconic Magnus Viking logo featured for the first time on buses and in train stations in Scotland’s largest cities.

The adverts show idyllic landscapes of Orkney and Shetland, alongside the Magnus Viking logo and images of the route’s vessels, and aims to encourage residents and visitors in both Glasgow and Edinburgh to experience the Northern Isles by travelling with the lifeline ferry service.

The marketing initiative comes following the publication this month of VisitScotland’s latest research1, which suggests the number of people visiting Orkney has increased by 20 per cent since 2013, while the number of visitors to Shetland has increased by 10 percent over the same period.

Stuart Garrett, Serco’s Managing Director of NorthLink Ferries, said: “As VisitScotland’s latest research shows, the Northern Isles are an increasingly popular choice for holiday makers. Our refreshed marketing campaign aims to build on that momentum, encouraging more people in the Central Belt to consider holidaying closer to home.

“Orkney and Shetland are remarkable destinations and offer much of what many Scots look for from a holiday abroad – crystal clear waters, white sands, adventure and history, and of course the very best locally sourced food and drink.

“We’ve made marketing a key element of our work since taking over the Northern Isles Ferry Service contract in 2012 and work closely with all of our partners to boost tourism in a sustainable way for the island economies that we serve. We hope this year only adds to the success already experienced by Orkney and Shetland and look forward to deliver for our local communities.”

The outdoor advertising will be supported by print and digital marketing and is in addition to existing campaigns in Aberdeen and Inverness.

>> Make sure you visit our competitions page for the #NorthLinkBus competition; you can win a trip to Orkney or Shetland for four people with a car and cabin by taking an eye-catching photo of a NorthLink branded bus. >>