Province Issues Request For Proposals for Tourism Marketing Agency

The province is issuing a call for proposals for a strategic marketing partner to work with the Nova Scotia Tourism Agency once the current marketing contract ends May 31.

The province announced the Nova Scotia Tourism Agency last fall to help Nova Scotia reach its fullest potential in the highly competitive global tourism market.

"The new tourism marketing contract will allow the Nova Scotia Tourism Agency to get the marketing support and expertise it needs to strategically promote Nova Scotia in key markets," said Percy Paris, Minister of Economic and Rural Development and Tourism. "Our goal is to inspire and motivate visitors to experience our great province and all it has to offer.

"The new Nova Scotia Tourism Agency signals a new approach to tourism. Industry and government are working collaboratively to promote innovation and competitiveness as part of the jobsHere plan to create good jobs and grow our economy."

The request for proposals reflects changes from previous contracts that will provide cost-savings. Results-based performance fees have been eliminated and Communications Nova Scotia will now oversee media buying.

Nova Scotia's tourism marketing campaigns incorporate strategic planning and leading-edge research to reach key markets in Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada, that provide the greatest potential to attract visitors and revenue to the province.

"The Nova Scotia Tourism Agency marks a new approach to tourism that will help the province reach its fullest potential as a world-class destination," said Tom Ruth, interim board chair of the Nova Scotia Tourism Agency.

The province has contracted a tourism marketing agency for many years to provide strategic planning, advertising and promotional services for the annual provincial tourism marketing campaigns.

The term of the new contract is two years, with an option of a one-year extension. It will fall within the existing tourism budget.

Nova Scotia's tourism industry is an important contributor to the economy. The industry directly employs more than 22,000 people and generates annual revenues of $1.8 billion.

For more information on the request for proposals, visit http://gov.ns.ca/tenders/tenders/ns-tenders.aspx .