Yarmouth's Visitor Centre Upgraded

A substantial upgrade to the streets, sidewalks and land surrounding the Nova Scotia visitor information centre in Yarmouth has helped to make the area more inviting for visitors and residents.

Extensive landscaping, new sidewalks and a small plaza are all part of an enhancement project carried out recently. The Yarmouth Waterfront Development Corp. played a key role in the project, providing design services to complement the corporation's overall waterfront plan.

"We are most pleased with the province's decision to adopt the corporation's conceptual plan for needed improvement to its facility," said corporation chairman Clifford Hood. "This partnership and the Department of Economic Development and Tourism's decision to contract the work to the corporation has resulted in an excellent eye-pleasing and functional design.

"In addition, the work has been performed expeditiously on a tight schedule and with significant cost reductions to the province."

The improvements include a new sidewalk on Water Street as well as a plaza for visitors and residents to enjoy the surroundings. Extensive landscaping, including new flowers and trees, also makes the grounds more inviting. To cope with the steep hill leading to the centre, a dual-purpose sidewalk has been constructed: one side is wheelchair accessible, while the other has resting platforms between flights of stairs.

"We're working to ensure all our centres provide top-quality service so that our visitors get the information they need in comfortable and scenic surroundings," said David Oxner, executive director of Tourism Nova Scotia. "Numerous partners have worked together on this project, with more activities planned to improve the facility and its surroundings."

To celebrate recent improvements to the centre, the Yarmouth County Tourist Association is organizing a flag-raising ceremony today starting at 1 p.m. at the centre on Main Street.

"We're pleased to be a part of this partnership celebration," said Linda Deveau, executive director of Yarmouth County Tourist Association. "The ongoing waterfront improvements have certainly brought a sense of community to the town and are a pleasure for residents and visitors alike."

Nova Scotia visitor information centres are located in Amherst, Digby, Halifax (airport, waterfront and downtown), Pictou/Wood Islands, Port Hastings, Portland and Bar Harbor, Me., Yarmouth and North Sydney. The province also maintains a presence on ferries from New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland. As well, it provides some visitor services at Peggy's Cove.

To date this year, the number of tourists visiting information centres is up 11 per cent over the same period last year.

"Studies indicate that a visitor who receives counselling at a visitor information centre will, on average, spend more time and money in that destination than a visitor who does not," said Mr. Oxner.

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 added up to $105 million in provincial and municipal tax revenue.