January Tourism Stats Available

ECONOMIC/RURAL DEVELOPMENT/TOURISM--January Tourism Stats Available

• ---------------------------------------------------------------Nova Scotia accommodations sold five per cent more room nights in January compared to the same month in 2010. Visitors to the province decreased from 96,800 to 91,000 during the same time period.

"We are rolling out an innovative marketing plan geared to our key markets, Atlantic Canada, Ontario, Germany, the United Kingdom and the Northeastern United States," said Percy Paris, Minister of Economic and Rural Development and Tourism. "The plan will attract more visitors to the province and build Nova Scotia as a premier travel destination to create good jobs that will grow our economy."

Traditionally, January visitors account for about five per cent of the total number of visits to Nova Scotia each year.

Road travel to the province decreased by 10 per cent in January, while air travel increased two per cent.

For the first month of the year, overall domestic travel to the province fell six per cent. Visits from Atlantic Canadians were also down by six per cent. Visitors from Quebec increased 10 per cent, while western Canadian visitors are up nine per cent. Visits from Ontario decreased 15 per cent compared to last year.

Total overseas visitors to the province increased by eight per cent in January.

Tourism statistics vary across the province. Detailed results can be found at www.gov.ns.ca/tch/tourism/facts-figures.aspx .

Nova Scotia's comprehensive system for reporting monthly tourism statistics includes counting non-resident overnight visitors at all entry points to the province and gathers the number of room nights sold from licensed accommodation operators.

Tourism is an important contributor to Nova Scotia's economy. In 2008, the industry employed more than 31,000 people and generated revenues of $1.82 billion.