September Tourism Statistics Available

Nova Scotia welcomed 1,676,800 visitors from January to September, which is up one per cent compared with this time last year.

The number of people travelling to Nova Scotia by road, year-to-date, is up eight per cent, while visitors travelling by air are down 13 per cent compared with 2008. As of September, room nights sold are down four per cent compared with the same period in 2008.

In the month of September, 229,800 visited Nova Scotia. This was an increase of five per cent compared with September 2008. Road visitors increased by 10 per cent, while air travel decreased by 4 per cent, and room nights sold were up one per cent, compared with September 2008.

"Our tourism industry is holding its own despite global tourism and economic challenges," said Percy Paris, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Heritage. "We must, however, continue to work together to understand our visitors travel habits and provide experiences that keep tourists coming back again and again."

To the end of September, domestic travel showed growth of two per cent, even though visitors from Western Canada and Quebec lagged by six and two per cent respectively. Visits from Ontario improved by four per cent or 15,500 more visitors, and those visiting from Atlantic Canada increased by two per cent or 19,000 visitors, compared with this time last year.

American visits to Nova Scotia increased by three per cent in September, although year-to-date results remain down two per cent. To the end of September, 11 per cent more U.S. visitors arrived by motor vehicle (about 10,000 visits), while U.S. visitors arriving by air dipped 18 per cent (or almost 13,000 visits), compared with this time last year.

While September visits from overseas markets broke even, visits year-to-date remains down nine per cent (about 5,300 visitors). Visits from the U.K. declined 19 per cent year-to-date, while visitors from Germany are up slightly year-to-date (three per cent or 8,300 more visits).

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/tch/pubs/insights . Statistics for October are expected to be released later in November.