26 January, 2007

SHETLAND'S presentation at the London boat show has proved a great success with 315 enquiries received from yachting enthusiasts interested in travelling to Orkney and Shetland.

A promotional DVD released in conjunction with VisitShetland and Orkney Marina's offices was unveiled at the show.

Shetland Islands Council's economic development unit is now processing the information received by potential visitors to build up a customer profile database. They will then plan a targeted marketing campaign to encourage people to take boating holidays in Shetland.

This market research will also allow them to fine tune the promotional DVD further, ready for attracting summer travellers.

Chairman of the Shetland Marinas, Piers & Boating Clubs Association, Bobby Hunter, said: "There has been a fantastic response at our stand which shows that there is a demand for boating holidays to Shetland. It is also good that we have recently been able to secure funding to improve the visitor facilities infrastructure around Shetland.

"At the show we saw from our enquiries that a potential opportunity exists to develop a business in wintering boats in the islands."

Orkney Marinas plan to represent the joint Orkney/Shetland promotional campaign at a Stockholm Boat Show in March to attract people from Scandinavia to take boating holidays.