News Release Archive
ECONOMIC RENEWAL--BANNER TOURISM YEAR-ANNAPOLIS VALLEY
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"An exceptional season .. outstanding!" That is how Jim Laceby
of Wolfville's Blomidon Inn describes the 1994 tourism season.
Mr. Laceby's reaction is consistent with the figures released by
Tourism Nova Scotia which indicate a 26 per cent increase in
requests to Nova Scotia's information and reservation service and
a seven per cent increase in room sales during the peak period
from July through September.
Although there were many out of province visitors, Mr. Laceby
still counts Nova Scotians looking for mini-vacations or business
retreats, as important customers. "For 15 days in August we
enjoyed an occupancy rate of 98.8 per cent!"
Mr. Laceby says with the launch of the Wolfville-based Atlantic
Theatre Festival next season, he anticipates Wolfville "becoming
another jewel of a provincial destination."
Historic ambience and fine dining attracts visitors to the
Valley's numerous bed and breakfasts and beautiful inns, from
Digby to Windsor. "Our business has grown in both the restaurant
and the lodge," reports Ray Tudor of Brier Island Lodge. " Ours
is definitely a nature-based facility and we're starting to see
more groups of bird watchers and naturalists". Tudor welcomes a
mixture of visitors, an international clientele and Nova Scotia
residents who make regular trips. He expects l995 to outperform
the solid l994 results.
Canadvac's Eric Mullen, situated in Caledonia, Queens County,
arranges travel for European visitors. He is satisfied with l994
and very optimistic about the future. "Our travel packages,
especially 'Fly and Drive', are very popular and thanks to some
focused and effective marketing of Nova Scotia in Europe, we can
now concentrate on selling those packages as a known
destination".
Economic Renewal Minister Ross Bragg, said the province is proud
to work with such an energetic industry as the tourism sector.
"Operators throughout Nova Scotia understand the benefits of
long-range planning, packaging, co-operative marketing and
collaboration," the minister said. "Tourism earned itself a
banner year in l994, and the government is pleased to help create
a platform for this success."
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Contact: Marsha Andrews (902) 424-4207
Joe Cottreau (902) 424-3970
lm January 12, 1995
