April and May Tourism Stats Available

The number of visitors to Nova Scotia to the end of May is up slightly over last year. Statistics released today, July 22, show that 627,400 people came to Nova Scotia between January and May 2008, a one per cent increase, or 5,200 more, compared to the same period in 2007.

Most of those visitors – 65 per cent – travelled by road, a three per cent decrease in road travel, while the remaining 35 per cent arrived by air, a nine per cent increase over 2007.

The vast majority of visits were from other parts of Canada, with 65 per cent from other Atlantic provinces, and 25 per cent from Ontario, Quebec and Western Canada combined. Visits from the United States and overseas each made up five per cent of the total.

"Despite continuing challenges, we're holding our own and we're encouraged as we head into the peak summer months," said Bill Dooks, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Heritage. "Road travel, particularly from the United States, continues to decrease, due in part to fuel prices, while air travel is still on the rise. We won't know the full impact of higher fuel prices on tourism until later in the year."

Business at hotels, motels and inns to the end of May was also up over last year. The number of room nights sold from January to May 2008 was 815,000, a six per cent increase over 2007. This ranged from a 25 per cent increase in the Eastern Shore to a four per cent decrease in the Yarmouth and Acadian Shore.

The statistics also included new numbers for just April and May 2008. The number of visitors in April decreased five per cent over April 2007, while the number of room nights sold was up 15 per cent. May showed an eight per cent increase in both the number of visitors and room nights sold, likely due to the success of the 2008 International Ice Hockey Federation World Championship in Halifax.

Nova Scotia's comprehensive system for collecting tourism statistics includes counting vehicles at all entry points to the province and surveying visitors departing the Halifax Stanfield International Airport. Nova Scotia residents are not included in the counts.

Detailed tourism statistics and an early season review can be found on the Department of Tourism, Culture and Heritage website at www.gov.ns.ca/dtc/pubs/insights.

Statistics for June are expected to be released in early August.