News Release Archive
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT/TOURISM--Marine Drive Beautification
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Cultural and natural heritage initiatives along the Marine Drive
are receiving a boost that's expected to lure more tourists to
the region.
Funding of $500,000 toward a total project cost of $750,000 over
three years was provided by the Canada/Nova Scotia COOPERATION
Agreement on Economic Diversification. This is Phase 2 of the
Marine Drive Tour development project, and it will create 20
full-time jobs.
Senator Al Graham, Leader of the Government in the Senate, on
behalf of Fred Mifflin, Secretary of State for the Atlantic
Canada Opportunities Agency, and Manning MacDonald, Minister of
Economic Development and Tourism, are pleased to see this project
move forward and say it will greatly boost tourism along Marine
Drive.
"This project continues to build on community-based tourists
attractions along the Marine Drive from the Canso Causeway to the
Halifax-Dartmouth metropolitan area," said Gordon MacDonald,
executive director of the Guysborough Regional Development
Authority. "This type of tourism attraction and infrastructure
along the Marine Drive will increase tourism in the area, which
will enhance community development."
The Guysborough and Halifax regional development authorities will
work with the Antigonish-Eastern Shore Tourist Association to
help co-ordinate community projects.
"People in communities know what's best for them," said Mike
Broomfield, executive director of the Antigonish-Eastern Shore
Tourist Association. "They are committed to making the most out
of their areas in order to benefit residents and tourists alike."
Phase 1 of the project saw the development of eight community
initiatives, including the completion of the first part of the
Guysborough hiking trail, a coastal park at Black Duck Cove in
Little Dover, the beginning of the Chapel Gully hiking trail, a
number of Liscombe Lodge hiking trails, planning for the Port
Bickerton Lighthouse in Guysborough County, a Wilderness
Interpretive Centre in Porters Lake, a day use park at Moser
River Sea Side Park and a Mulgrave look-off.
Phase 2 will help to establish partnerships among government,
business and local development organizations to develop
sustainable communities through tourism as part of the local
economy.
A number of cultural heritage projects and coastal nature
initiatives will be worked on, and measures to improve tourism
products and services along the Eastern Shore will receive a
boost.
The enhancement of the Marine Drive area is expected to bring an
increase of 6,000 visitors to the Eastern Shore and generate
$500,000 in tourism revenues annually.
The Canada/Nova Scotia COOPERATION Agreement on Economic
Diversification is managed by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities
Agency and Enterprise Cape Breton Corp. on behalf of the federal
government and by Economic Development and Tourism on behalf of
the province.
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Contact: Renee Field
Economic Development and Tourism
902-424-4998
E-mail: econ.fieldrd@gov.ns.ca
Julia Watt
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
902-426-9304
E-mail: Jwatt@acoa.ca
ngr Nov. 25, 1997 11:50 a.m.
