News release

November Tourism Stats Available

Tourism, Culture and Heritage (Dec. 2003 - Jan. 2011)

Nova Scotia is showing an overall gain in its tourism numbers to the end of November, welcoming 2,013,800 visitors, an increase of one per cent compared with 2009.

In the month of November, the number of visitors increased by four per cent, compared with 2009.

"Tourism operators in Nova Scotia are working hard to deliver top-notch experiences in every region to make the province a premier travel destination," said Percy Paris, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Heritage. "This is reflected in an increase in the overall number of visitors to the province, helping to build the industry and create good jobs that grow the economy."

Room nights sold in the province rose five per cent in November, compared with last year. From January to November, they are up one per cent.

Road travel to the province increased by three per cent in the first 11 months of the year, and two per cent in November. Air travel is up nine per cent for the month, decreasing three per cent so far this year.

Between January and November, overall domestic travel to the province showed two per cent growth. Visits from Atlantic Canada grew by three per cent, Quebec visits are up four per cent, while Ontario visits increased one per cent compared with last year. Western Canadian visitors are down seven per cent for the first eleven months.

Visits from Germany increased by 11 per cent, while United Kingdom visits fell seven per cent and total overseas visitors decreased seven per cent year to date. Visits from the United States are down two per cent in the same time period.

Traffic to the novascotia.com website has grown by seven per cent year to date.

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.