The Isles of Scilly are becoming an increasingly popular destination for groups according to the Island�s destination marketing team.

Island Marketing says interest from group travel organisers and operators in relation to the islands, which lie 28 miles off Lands End and can be reached by fixed wing plane, helicopter or passenger ferry, has grown significantly in the last 12 months, as awareness of just what the archipelago has to offer groups has increased.

Further interest, says Jess Smalley of Island Marketing has also increased as a result of the Islands exhibiting at a range of travel shows across the UK.

�We have seen a real up turn in interest in the Isles of Scilly from a group perspective which is fantastic, with everyone from school and social groups through to specialist group travel operators and interest groups such as horticultural and wildlife societies, wanting to put the Isles of Scilly on their itineraries,� said Jess.

According to Island Marketing, visitors to the Islands also repeatedly say one of the biggest attractions of their visit is the feeling of stepping back in time to a quieter Britain when life was slower and more relaxed, which when combined with the wide range of visitor experiences that are available for groups makes them a perfect destination.

�There is a real sense that you are getting away from the stresses of modern life, despite the fact the Islands are only 28 miles off the Cornish Coast, with virtually no traffic, adding to that sense of peacefulness. Yet at the same time there are a wealth of things to do.

�For not only are there the more renowned visitor experiences, such as the Tresco Abbey Garden, home to over 20,000 species of plants, the vast majority of which could not survive on mainland Britain, but there are a range of other group activities available such as boat trips to explore the inhabited and uninhabited Islands, a range of galleries and workshops, a vineyard and micro brewery, themed and guided walks, talks and presentations in the evenings, and not to mention the stunning and diverse landscapes, flora and fauna,� said Jess.

�Historically there seems to have been a perception with the group travel market that the white sand beaches and turquoise waters apart, things to do across the Islands were limited from a group perspective, which is simply not the case.

�The Islands are perfectly set up for group travelers of all shapes and sizes whether they want to visit for a day or make the Islands their home for a few days or more,� Jess added.

For more information on the Isles of Scilly visit www.simplyscilly.co.uk or call the Tourism Office on 01720 424031.

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Issued by Graham Buckley/Karen Baker of Mercury PR on 0845 603 8456.