First Quarter Tourism Stats Available

Nova Scotia welcomed 295,800 visitors in the first quarter of 2012, an increase of 12 per cent compared to 2011.

Year to date, air travel is up five per cent compared to 2011, while road travel to the province increased by 16 per cent. "We are excited to kick off the year with such positive results," said Percy Paris of Economic and Rural Development and Tourism. "Nova Scotia has been named among the top destinations for 2012 by international media, and we are looking forward to a successful tourism season."

For the first three months of the year, domestic travel to the province was up 12 per cent. Visits from Quebec increased by 25 per cent, visits from Ontario were up 18 per cent, and visits from Atlantic Canada increased by 12 per cent. Visits from Western Canada increased by four per cent.

Outside Canada, visits from the United States to Nova Scotia were up 31 per cent during the first quarter. Total overseas visits were down 13 per cent for the year. Results for the U.K. were up 37 per cent, while visits from Germany were down 13 per cent.

Room nights sold in the province were down by three per cent year to date.

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 employed more than 22,000 people and generated revenues of $1.82 billion.