Guide Puts N.S. in Tourists'
Hands

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT/TOURISM--Guide Puts N.S. in Tourists' Hands

Nova Scotia's travel guide -- the Complete Guide for Doers and Dreamers -- is doing some travelling of its own. Half a million copies of the 1998 edition began making their way across the province and around the world before Christmas.

"The guide has become an indispensable tool for marketing Nova Scotia to the world," said Manning MacDonald, Minister of Economic Development and Tourism. "Those involved in developing this publication are to be congratulated for putting out the best guide ever."

Once again, Nova Scotia's travel guide is the first in Atlantic Canada to hit the street. "Being out there first gives our operators a competitive edge as they plan for the 1998 tourism season," said Michele McKenzie, executive director of the Nova Scotia Marketing Agency.

This year's edition has a number of new design features that make it more attractive and easier to read, said Colleen Abdullah, who supervises production of the guide.

"New additions include vignettes that bring attention to Nova Scotia's rich musical offerings and testimonials that provide more exposure for outdoor activities," said Ms. Abdullah, of Economic Development and Tourism. "Numerous groups have also come together to make the best use of advertising space."

The guide includes more than 3,000 accommodations, campgrounds, festivals and cultural events, museums, adventure tourism operations and eating establishments that serve Nova Scotia's visitors. It is circulated at trade events and shows, at Canadian embassies and consulates, and through the provincial visitor information system.

"Producing the guide involves six months of hard work by a dedicated team of professionals," Ms. Abdullah said. That team includes design, film, editorial and advertising experts. "The goal is to make it as accurate, attractive, user friendly, economical and timely as possible."

Research conducted by the Nova Scotia Marketing Agency has shown that the travel guide not only entices visitors to Nova Scotia, but it encourages them to stay longer and to travel the province more extensively.

Copies of the guide are available throughout North America by calling the Nova Scotia information and reservation service at 1-800-565-0000; through the Internet at http://explore.gov.ns.ca/virtualns, or by writing to the Nova Scotia Marketing Agency, P.O. Box 519, Halifax, N.S., B3J 2R7.