Highlands & Islands Ports In US Marketing Mission

Representatives of 5 ports from around the Highlands & Islands have just returned from Miami where they were exhibiting at the Seatrade International Cruise Shipping Convention.

Lerwick, Kirkwall, Scrabster, Invergordon and Portree joined Aberdeen, Fairlie and Greenock on the Cruise UK stand to try to attract a larger share of the lucrative cruise ship market. The event is the largest trade show of its kind in the world and provides a unique opportunity for ports to meet with the key decision makers from the world's major cruise lines.

This year the Scottish ports were joined by Jo Wedlock, Communications and PR Director for Homecoming Scotland 2009. "We were very pleased that Homecoming Scotland were able to join us in Miami", said Gordon Ireland, The Highland Council's Tourism Development Officer. "One of the first questions you get asked is -What's new in Scotland? - and with the cruise industry usually planning around two years ahead, this was an ideal opportunity for us to flag up the planned celebrations for Homecoming Scotland 2009."

All the ports reported strong interest in Scotland from the cruise lines and, as 2008 itineraries are finalised over the coming weeks, all expect to see cruise ship calls exceed this year's figures.