September Tourism Stats Available

Nova Scotia welcomed one per cent more visitors in the month of September compared to 2010.

Total visitors from January to September were down three per cent. Room nights sold were down four per cent for September, and have decreased one per cent year to date.

International visitors to Nova Scotia decreased one per cent year to date. This is comparable to the one per cent decrease in visitors to Canada in the same time period.

"Key tourism indicators for 2011 are showing mixed results due to increasing global competition, a difficult economic climate and poor weather earlier in the season," said Percy Paris, Minister of Economic and Rural Development and Tourism. "Through the new Nova Scotia Tourism Agency, the province is working closely with industry to create a long-term strategy that will build tourism in Nova Scotia and create good jobs that grow our economy."

Year to date, air travel was up nine per cent compared to 2010, while road travel to the province decreased by seven per cent.

Motorcoach traffic has increased by 26 per cent compared to the 2010 season.

Cruise ship passengers to Halifax showed a one per cent decrease year to date over last year and visits to Sydney were up 18 per cent.

Visits from the United States were down five per cent year to date. U.S. visits to Nova Scotia for the month of September were down by one per cent compared to 2010.

For the month of September, air travel was up by eight per cent, while road travel decreased by three per cent.

Domestic travel to the province was down three per cent year to date. Visits from Quebec increased by eight per cent and visits from Western Canada increased by six per cent. Visits from Ontario were down by four per cent, while visits from Atlantic Canada decreased by four per cent.

Total overseas visits were up nine per cent for the year. Results for Germany are up 32 per cent, while visits from the UK were down 13 per cent.

Tourism statistics vary across the province. Detailed results can be found at www.gov.ns.ca/econ/tourism/research/latest-activity-updates.asp.

Nova Scotia's comprehensive system for reporting monthly tourism statistics includes counting non-resident overnight visitors at 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 directly employed more than 22,000 people and generated revenues of $1.82 billion.