$1.8 Million Expansion to White Point

White Point Beach Resort is responding to the increased tourist traffic in the south shore region with a $1.8 million expansion.

The resort, which currently operates at or near capacity in the high and shoulder seasons, plans to construct a new building to house 24 bedrooms and function space for the meeting and social requirements of guests. Twelve full-time jobs will be created as a direct result of the expansion.

White Point is being assisted with the project through a $900,000 loan from Economic Development and Tourism, and a $700,000 interest free loan under the Business Development Program of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA). The funding was announced at a White Point luncheon for members of the local business community today by David Oxner, executive director of Tourism Nova Scotia, on behalf of Economic Development and Tourism Minister Manning MacDonald, and 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 (ACOA).

"Economic Development and Tourism is proud to support projects like this because the economic spinoffs are felt throughout the region," said Mr. Oxner. "Room sales for the south shore are up 15 per cent already this year. By tapping into a growing sector of the tourism market with this expansion, White Point will bring more visitors to the region, and that's good news for the local economy."

"The tourism industry topped $1.4 billion in Nova Scotia this past year, and the south shore played a key role in that success," said Senator Graham. "ACOA recognizes tourism as a strategic economic priority for Nova Scotia. When individual operations improve, the south shore, and the rest of Nova Scotia, can offer an even more complete tourist destination package.

"The added capacity provided by this expansion will allow White Point to better serve its markets, allowing us to better cater to the needs of our guests," said Doug Fawthrop, managing director, White Point Beach Resort. "This project will not only help us to achieve these goals, but the new facility will also attract more visitors to the south shore, which is beneficial to the other attractions and services in the area."

White Point is the oldest privately owned resort in Atlantic Canada. The oceanfront property currently has 122 bedrooms available in six lodges and 48 cottages. Built in 1928, the original scheme envisioned a private hunting and fishing lodge, with a series of cottages. The resort caters to pleasure travellers and the meeting markets on a year-round basis, offering a variety of special packages including conference and meeting packages, romance packages and golf packages.