Free ferry tickets for visitors to Northern Isles
Northlink Ferries are giving away 3000 foot passenger tickets to the Northern Isles as part of a Visit Scotland promotion that is underway next month.
The tickets, among 8000 for ferry trips throughout Scotland, can be won in random weekly ballots to be held on 12th, 19th and 26th March, and will be valid for five months from 15th April.
The free ticket bonanza is part of the Brilliant Island Moments promotion which follows on from last year’s “highly successful” Big April Adventures. There will also be a series of TV ads and a 24 page pull out in tomorrow’s (Saturday’s) Daily Record promoting Scotland’s “beautiful islands”.
The central belt radio station Real Radio will also be broadcasting a one-hour programme on Shetland, Mull and Iona from 12pm to 1pm tomorrow. There will also be articles in other national papers.
Visit Shetland manager Steve Mathieson said: “This is a major campaign for us and obviously Scotland’s islands are going to benefit. It will help people get to places like Shetland.
“It’s basically pushing for Scots to see more of what’s on their doorstep. It gives people that incentive and opportunity to see a place like Shetland that maybe they were not intending to visit.”
Visit Scotland has teamed up with NorthLink and Hebrides ferry company CalMac to provide the 8,000 free ferry tickets and as part of the Year of Homecoming Scotland 2014 celebrations. There will be 1500 pairs of tickets for Northlink routes.
Entering the draw is simple: simply select a ferry provider from the drop down box, select your point of departure and destination and enter. Winners will be drawn at random through the three weekly ballots this month. Winners will receive a pair of adult tickets to the island of their choice within 14 days of closing date.
Entrants who don’t win on one week, can register again the next week to be in with another chance.
Tickets are valid for outbound travel (to Orkney or Shetland from Aberdeen) from 15th April until 31st October 2014 (excluding Easter weekend and dates in July and August 2014). Tickets are valid for one month from outbound date of travel, open return.