Regions Hike Trail Facilities

Nova Scotia's walking, hiking and multi-use trails are about to be upgraded and expanded. Over the next three years, the Nova Scotia Trails Destination Project aims to have hikers hot-footing it to the province, making Nova Scotia one of the world's premier trails destinations.

The $3 million project will develop and enhance the province's unique, quality hiking areas, positioning Nova Scotia as one of the world's premier trails destinations. It will also include further development of the Nova Scotia portion of the Trans-Canada Trail, the proposed route primarily following abandoned railway corridors through several counties.

The provincial and federal governments will invest $2 million in the project between now and 2001, under the Canada/Nova Scotia COOPERATION Agreement on Economic Diversification. The project will draw on community involvement and develop local and community trails, and facilities.

"These projects will not only allow our tourism industry to put its best foot forward, they'll also create up to 200 jobs during the development phase, and another 210 permanent jobs from economic spinoffs and increased visitor spending," said Economic Development and Tourism Minister Manning MacDonald.

Mr. MacDonald said that trail development would capitalize on Nova Scotia's competitive strength in the nature and marine tourism market.

The Nova Scotia Tourism Strategy and the Nature Tourism Action Plan both identified trail development as a major opportunity. Coastal hiking has been established as a key product for marketing in domestic and international markets. Coastal and wilderness trails are a priority under the project.

"The federal government is delighted to invest in the Trails Destination Project. Not only will it complement the millennium Trans-Canada Trail development, but it will do so by taking advantage of Nova Scotia's superb natural beauty," said Senator Al Graham, Leader of the Government in the Senate and Minister responsible for Nova Scotia, on behalf of Fred Mifflin, Secretary of State for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. "This adds to the competitiveness and attractiveness of Nova Scotia's tourism package."

"When you think of the rugged beauty of our trails at places like Cape Chignecto and around the Cabot trail, Nova Scotia certainly has the geographic potential to be one of the world's best when it comes to hiking," said Doug Fawthrop, of the Tourism Partnership Council. "The Trails Destination Project will help us develop a really attractive package. I'm confident it will bring more visitors to sample these wonders for themselves."

Nova Scotia receives more than a million visitors each year, and recent tourism surveys show 66 per cent of pleasure travellers look for unique walking trails. Almost 24 per cent want to hike in a wilderness area while they are here. By making the province more attractive to hiking and walking enthusiasts, the trail development project aims to attract 36,000 new visitors each year.

"We are delighted that the government of Nova Scotia is so clearly and tangibly endorsing recreational trail development by community trail-building associations," said Stan Slack, president of the Nova Scotia Trails Federation.

The Canada/Nova Scotia COOPERATION Agreement on Economic Diversification is managed by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and the Nova Scotia Department of Economic Development and Tourism. The Nova Scotia Trails Destination Project will be managed by Economic Development through Tourism Nova Scotia and a steering committee.