July Tourism Stats Available

There were five per cent more visitors and five per cent more room nights sold in Nova Scotia in July compared with July 2006.

"These increases in tourists and accommodations activity are encouraging, especially during one of our peak months," said Len Goucher, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Heritage. "With tourism operators working hard to deliver the product we're promoting in our marketing campaign, we seem to be picking up a little momentum through the summer that we hope will carry into the fall."

Room nights sold were up in all regions in July with the exception of the Annapolis Valley, down four per cent, and the Eastern Shore, having no change over July 2006.

There were 10 per cent fewer American visitors and 15 per cent fewer visitors from other countries. These decreases were offset by a nine per cent increase in visitors from the rest of Canada.

The number of people travelling to Nova Scotia by road increased five per cent while the number arriving by air was up three per cent.

Year to date, Nova Scotia has welcomed more than one million visitors -- the same as the first seven months of 2006 -- and room nights sold are up three per cent.

Nova Scotia's comprehensive system for reporting tourism statistics includes counting overnight visitors -- excluding Nova Scotia residents -- at all entry points to the province and gathering the number of room nights sold from all licensed accommodation operators.

Detailed tourism statistics can be found on the Department of Tourism, Culture and Heritage website at www.gov.ns.ca/dtc/pubs/insights . Statistics for August are expected to be released in early October.