News release

February Stats Available

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

Nova Scotia welcomed more than 104,200 visitors in February, up one per cent, or 1,000 more than last February.

Room nights sold for February were up five per cent provincewide compared with last February with all regions seeing an increase.

"Year to date, we're holding fairly steady and we're eager to see how the whole season develops," said Bill Dooks, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Heritage. "With tourism season approaching, we are finalizing our marketing campaign and will soon be ramping up activities in key markets."

The number of people travelling to Nova Scotia by road grew by two per cent from last February while air visitation decreased by one per cent or 300 visitors this year compared to February of 2007.

Last fall, the department introduced new tourism regions to help groups market products and experiences more effectively. The new regions are Halifax Metro, South Shore, Yarmouth and Acadian Shores, Fundy Shore and Annapolis Valley, Northumberland Shore, Cape Breton Island, and Eastern Shore.

Accommodations statistics are now being reported according to these new tourism regions.

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 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 March are expected to be released in early May.