Tourism Key to Team Canada

Increasing the number of German tourists to Nova Scotia is key to the province's participation in Team Canada 2002, Premier John Hamm said today.

Germany is Nova Scotia's third-largest international tourism market, attracting 14,000 visitors to the province each year. Last year, German tourists to Nova Scotia directly contributed over $14 million to the province's economy.

"Hundreds of jobs in Nova Scotia depend on German visitors spending their leisure time in our province," said the premier. "It is essential that our government continues to promote Nova Scotia as a destination to this important tourism market."

While in Germany, Premier Hamm hosted breakfasts in Berlin and Munich for 30 members of the country's travel industry. Each breakfast included presentations on Nova Scotia from Michele McKenzie, deputy minister of Tourism and Culture. Also taking part in the presentations was Anne Freiss of Canadvac Travel Services, a company based in Caledonia, Queens Co., that focuses on organizing Nova Scotia tours for German visitors.

"Nova Scotia has so much to offer the German tourist -- nature, scenery, culture and history," said Ms. Freiss. "As somebody who works day in and day out promoting our province to German travellers, I was delighted to receive such an endorsement from Premier Hamm and the provincial government."

The Nova Scotia delegation also met personally with some of the largest tour wholesalers in Europe, as well as with officials form Air Canada. Since the loss of Icelandair and Canada 3000 service to Halifax, the Nova Scotia government has increased its efforts to re-establish direct air access between Germany and Nova Scotia.

"We are sending a message to the German visitors that it's worth the effort to come to Nova Scotia," added the premier. "On the other hand, we are putting forward their advice to Air Canada and others that better air access between Germany and Nova Scotia will deliver many positive benefits, not only to our province but to all Atlantic Canada."

Tilo Krause-Dunow, a German tour operator who attended the Nova Scotia presentation in Munich, was impressed by the province's work.

"Increasing Nova Scotia's profile among the tourism industry in Germany through presentations such as this will lead to more interest in the province," said Mr. Krause-Dunow. "Seeing the Nova Scotia government and tourist operators like Ms. Freiss work together leaves a positive, lasting impression on potential customers."

Tourism was identified as a foundation industry in Opportunities for Prosperity, the province's economic-growth strategy released in the fall of 2000.

Team Canada 2002 concludes Feb. 22. Three Nova Scotia organizations have signed agreements in Germany and Russia. They are Mount Saint Vincent University of Halifax, University College of Cape Breton of Sydney, and Forest Insight of Sandfield, Cape Breton Regional Municipality.