News release

Extra Effort To Attract American Tourists

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

TOURISM, CULTURE AND HERITAGE--Extra Effort To Attract American Tourists


The province and the Tourism Industry Association of Nova Scotia (TIANS) are teaming up to attract more visitors from the United States.

Tourism, Culture and Heritage Minister Rodney MacDonald, announced today, April 14, an investment of $1.3-million to help TIANS with administering marketing efforts targeting the northeastern U.S.

"We want to maximize the benefits tourism can bring to our communities and the province overall," said Mr. MacDonald. "This support will allow the industry to increase our collective efforts in a very important market for tourism in this province."

The one-time investment will lead to the development of new partnerships and closer relationships with the travel trade and transportation industries to promote Nova Scotia as a world-class vacation destination.

"Much of the success of any tourism season in this province depends on how many visitors from the United States we can entice to Nova Scotia," said Nicholas Carson, chair of TIANS. "More visitors from the U.S. will benefit tourism operators across the province."

Charley Clerk, chair, Nova Scotia Tourism Partnership Council, says this latest investment demonstrates government's commitment to the industry's vision of doubling tourism revenues by 2012. "Industry and government understand that if we are going to meet our targets, we have to make an extra effort," said Mr. Clerk. "With an extensive tourism campaign already underway in this important U.S. market, this support from government will help us meet our objectives."

Today's investment is part of $15 million in funding announced by Mr. MacDonald in December 2004. That funding is designed to help boost Nova Scotia's tourism industry in the areas of marketing, product development, and regional tourism initiatives.