Nova Scotia Co-hosts Open House

The spotlight is on Nova Scotia at an open house in Bar Harbor, Me., today. This tourism event is part of ongoing promotional efforts to tap into the lucrative Maine market.

"We recognize the vast potential in this area. We also know we have to do more to increase the awareness of Nova Scotia as a vacation destination," said Manning MacDonald, Minister of Economic Development and Tourism. "A new visitor information centre in the area, along with joint promotional efforts, will go a long way towards encouraging visitors and residents in the Bar Harbor area to visit us."

This is the eighth consecutive year that Nova Scotia has had a sales and marketing presence in Bar Harbor. However, 1999 marks the first year the province has established a full-service visitor information centre in the state. Nine staff now work in two locations that operate from early June to mid-October. In addition to providing travel counselling, staff also promote day cruises and overnight travel packages.

"We've had a good season so far, with many people deciding to come to Nova Scotia after a visit to our centre," said Kevin Surette, supervisor of the facilities in both Bar Harbor and Yarmouth. "At our Cottage Street location alone, we welcome between 150 and 250 people a day."

Mr. Surette says the Cat fast ferry is a big draw. "Most people who come in are in the Bar Harbor area vacationing and have heard something about the Cat in particular. They also ask questions about the size of Nova Scotia and what there is to do in the province."

Festivities began this morning at the province's visitor information centre on Cottage Street. Artists, musicians and actors in period costumes helped welcome visitors. The open house moves dockside from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. for a Bay Ferries/Nova Scotia night at the terminal and on board the Cat as part of the Bar Harbor Arts Festival.

"Bay Ferries is pleased to be partnering with the Nova Scotia tourism industry to promote travel to the province," said Mitch McLean of Bay Ferries. "The season has been very good so far. We're hoping this event will hit the Bar Harbor market at its peak tourism season to generate more impulse travel to Nova Scotia."

The open house is designed to showcase key Nova Scotia attractions and the Cat, which makes regular runs between Bar Harbor and Yarmouth.

"A market analysis last year determined there are some seven million visitors to Maine each year, in addition to 1.2 million residents," said Doug Fawthrop, chair of the Nova Scotia Tourism Partnership Council. "To take advantage of the opportunities, we've introduced a multi-faceted marketing campaign in the area."

Nova Scotia's $1.1 billion tourism industry supports jobs for some 33,800 Nova Scotians, with a payroll of about $430 million. More than half of the billion dollar revenue comes from outside the province, making tourism a significant export industry. Last year's performance also generated $105 million in provincial and municipal tax revenue.