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Wightlink will focus its attention at
this year’s BTTF on promoting its growing range of consumer
booklets, which are designed to draw visitors with an
interest in the landscape, locally-produced food and gardens
to the Isle of Wight in the coming year. The operator will
also unveil details of its three new ships, two of which
will go into service on Lymington to Yarmouth car ferry
route in time for the height of the 2008 summer season (the
third will be ready early in 2009, after construction at the
Kraljevica shipyard in Croatia).
As part of its promotional activity for
2008 Wightlink is planning to intensify its green focus with
an expansion of its eco-friendly activities on the Isle of
Wight. Last year Wightlink launched a green guide to
accommodation on the Isle of Wight – Green Getaways – as
well extending its Rare Plant Trail designed for gardening
enthusiasts. Most recently it published the Wight Taste
Trail, which provides a route, allowing holidaymakers
visiting the Isle of Wight to eat their way around the
scenic landscape of the Island. 19 independent producers as
well as growers who sell their produce at the Farmers’
Markets in Newport and Ryde are featured in the full colour
guide. All the guides will be available to BTTF stand
visitors.
Wightlink Sales Director Ian Winn says
that the series of booklets are important tools in
attracting a wider range of visitors to the Isle of Wight,
which relies on all year round business to support many
small leisure businesses and attractions. “Coaches bring
many thousands of people to the Isle of Wight every year and
we need to provide plenty of reasons to encourage repeat
visits as well as building new business for the future. Our
heavy investment in new ferries for the Lymington-Yarmouth
route are evidence of our commitment to developing tourism
for the Isle of Wight,” he said.
“Our green guides have proved popular
over the past year and we want to continue to make visitors
aware of the Island’s growing commitment to green tourism,”
he added.
Another important tool for Wightlink,
which will be promoted on the stand at BTTF, is its series
of one day coach itineraries. These highlight the
contrasting appeal of the Isle of Wight ranging from its
natural history and attractive landscape to its historic
landmarks and gardens.
The itineraries include the Natural
History Trail, which takes in Europe’s first purpose built
dinosaur attraction, Dinosaur Isle, where visitors meet life
sized replicas of dinosaurs, including ones found on the
Isle of Wight. The itinerary then moves forward in time to
present day at Amazon World, where the story of the Amazon
rainforest is imaginatively recreated with the help of
animals who live in this environment, from armadillos and
anacondas to monkeys, lemurs and meerkats.
At BTTF Wightlink has again joined
forces with Isle of Wight Tourism and other Island
attractions on a stand that highlights the wide range of
holidays, short breaks and day trips available for both the
groups market and individual visitors to the Isle of Wight.
Ends
Issued on behalf
of:
By:
WIGHTLINK LTD
Christine Ball PR
7th January
2008
Tel: 01798 874177 |
