ISLE of Wight ferry operator Red Funnel has started working with specialist tour operators in a bid to increase its off-peak short-break business.
It will be offering a range of sports packages, which include activities such as mountain biking, hang gliding and horse riding, in partnership with local operator First Contact Active Leisure.
The company will also be selling walking holiday packages lasting between two and seven nights in the spring and autumn periods. These are organised by Step by Step Walking Holidays.
The new activity options will be packaged up with ferry crossings and accommodation in Red Funnel’s holiday brochure, which is due out later this month.
Red Funnel’s ferry services will also be promoted in tour operators’ own brochures.
Marketing director Olive Glass said: “This is a new departure for us, which is intended to build short-break business aimed at the individual and group markets out of season.
“The activity breaks will help attract a new, younger audience to the island. Walking breaks will be particularly attractive in the low season.”
Glass said the activity holidays were targeted at the 35-45 year age group, while the walking holidays were aimed at people aged between 35 and 65.
She claimed that Red Funnel’s existing package-holiday bookings had risen by 20% in the period from January 1 to August 28 this year, although she refused to reveal exact figures.
However, the operator’s car, coach and passenger volumes have all risen during 1999.
Car traffic rose by 8.7% to nearly 276,900; coach traffic rose by 9% to 4,100; and passenger numbers were up by 6.7% to 1.78m.