NorthLink announce major partnership
with tourist boards
((From The Orcadian dated April 4, 2001)

The new Northlink ferry livery, unveiled at Scotland's Travel Fair in Glasgow

NorthLink has announced a major new partnership with Orkney, Shetland and the Scottish Highland Tourist Boards, while unveiling their corporate colours and livery at Scotland's Travel Fair in Glasgow.

The company, who will take over the ferry services to Orkney and Shetland in October, 2002, say the Scottish tourist industry is set for a major boost.

The tourism marketing partnership, the first of its kind in Scotland, has joined forces in a grant application for funding through the European Regional Development Fund.

The launch means the company will feature in 2002 tourist brochures as the new service for Orkney and Shetland.

NorthLink chief executive, Mr John Horton said: "We believe this combination and pooling of resources will have a major impact on tourism to the north of Scotland and the Northern Isles."

Claiming their partnership will have a major impact on national and key international travel markets, Mr Horton added: "The Orkney and Shetland islands have a rich and ancient culture. Our new cruise standard ferries and the better services and improved choice for customers, provide a major opportunity to make the magnificent and unspoilt landscapes of Orkney and Shetland available to be enjoyed by many more visitors."

Speaking from the Trade Fair today Mr Horton said it had been very important to attend. "This is the major Trade Fair and obviously people who arrange holidays need to get hold of information on timetables and fares."

Having spoken to people from around the world, Mr Horton said some were aware of the new service and some were not.

"They are interested in the new ships, the quality of ships, the type of facilities and the timetable and fares. We have not had a minute since we got here."

Under the arrangement with NorthLink, the boards will provide fully integrated holiday packages booking passengers and cars on to ferries, offering a choice of accommodation, arranging car hire, and visits to tourist attractions. Special travel deals will also be built around special events like music festivals.

Mr Horton added that they were hoping to have presentation displays in Orkney and Shetland for people here to see exactly the services that they will be offering.

Mr Horton confirmed that his job title within the company had been changed from project director to chief executive, although he was not putting much emphasis on the new title.

"I was project director and that meant managing the project. I am still managing the project, but it's a more operational thing now."

Orkney Tourist Board chief executive, Mr Gareth Crichton, said: "This is an exciting development for the network of Orkney and Shetland specialists at home and abroad. The timetables NorthLink will operate will make travel between Orkney and Shetland far easier, giving us the chance to develop fully integrated twin-destination packages."

NorthLink unveiled their new services at Scotland's Travel Fair in the SECC, Glasgow at 3.30pm today.

Residents and tourists in Orkney are promised new ferries, shorter journey times and cheaper fares.

Three new state-of-the-art vessels are currently under construction in Finland. Two 125m ro-ro ships will operate between Aberdeen, Shetland and Orkney. The third vessel, a 110m ro-ro will be utilised in the Pentland Firth on the Scrabster-Orkney route.