Surge in bookings for Smyril superferry link

Advance bookings for this summer's Smyril Line ferry service between the Faroe Islands and Scrabster are already three times higher than this time last year.

The figures were revealed by the company's product manager during a familiarisation visit to the Highlands. Ann Mari Wang was accompanied by two colleagues from the company's sales offices in Norway and Tórshavn, together with journalist Heri Simonsen from the Faroese newspaper Sosialurin.

Councillor Drew Hendry, chairman of the Highland Council's planning, environment and development committee, said: "This is a great example of what can be achieved through co-operative working in the Highlands.

"Many different people, including Scrabster Harbour Trust, the local enterprise company, VisitScotland, the Highland Council's tourism team and private-sector tourism operators, have been working with Smyril Line over the past two years to persuade them to come to Scotland."

A three-day fact-finding visit for the Smyril group was organised by the Highland Council's tourism development officer, Gordon Ireland. The group were in the Highlands to experience at first hand the accommodation and visitor attractions they will be selling to their customers in the Faroe Islands and Norway. Despite less-than-perfect weather, the group were impressed by what they saw on their tour around the Highlands.

"A symphony of landscapes" was how journalist Heri Simonsen described the journey which started in Inverness and continued north to Wick and Thurso, along the coast to Durness and down the west coast before returning to Loch Ness, Inverness and Nairn.

Oda Andreasen, Smyril Line's sales manager for the Faroe Islands, was impressed by the variety and quality of accommodation on offer.

She said: "It was great to discover hotels in small villages. I did not expect to find that. Many of our family groups will book into the caravan holiday parks in Embo and Nairn, but we also have 'empty nesters' travelling who will not pre-book accommodation and will enjoy exploring the towns and villages of the Highlands."

During the visit, the Smyril Line team met representatives of the marketing groups North Highland Tourism and Highland Loch Ness Marketing.

Ann Mari Wang said: "It's been great to see so much co-operation. Everyone we have met has been really helpful."

Smyril Line's product manager, Ann Mari Wang ; the sales manager for the Faroe Islands, Oda Andreasen ; and the sales agent for Norway, Ina Valle, at Urquhart Castle during their recent fact-finding visit to the Highlands.

The 40,000-tonne superferry Norröna will call at Scrabster every Wednesday for 10 weeks commencing Wednesday, June 18, carrying passengers from Iceland, the Faroes and Norway. The route is expected to attract more than 6000 visitors, generating over £4 million for the Highland tourism economy.

Scrabster's North Atlantic ferry link was revived in June 2007 when the Norröna was given a special welcome at the start of its first 10-week summer schedule. Arrivals from the maiden sailing were greeted on the quayside by Caithness Junior Pipe Band, and a visiting VIP party attended a champagne reception in the Weigh Inn.

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