(Development and Rural Renewal)

Town of Elliston finds tourism potential in its roots

Tourism Elliston will receive $220,000 to take an unusual tourism initiative to the next level. The group will develop an interpretation program outlining the historical significance of the community�s century-old root cellars.

The town has developed a long-term plan focusing on its cultural assets. With more than 135 root cellars � a provincial record � the town has received considerable media attention and tourist visitation; more than 14,000 visitors attended the town�s festival in 1999.

Funding for the project, through the Canada-Newfoundland Agreement for the Economic Development Component of the Canadian Fisheries Adjustment and Restructuring Initiative (EDC), was announced today by Fred Mifflin, MP Bonavista-Trinity-Conception on behalf of the Honourable George Baker, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Secretary of State for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), and the Honourable Beaton Tulk, Minister of Development and Rural Renewal.dd"Tourism Elliston is a community group capitalizing on its area�s uniqueness," said Mr. Mifflin. "The Bonavista Peninsula is already well positioned as a tourism destination offering visitors a unique heritage experience. A well designed visual interpretation package will help build on the region�s historical significance and encourage more visitors to the area for longer periods of time."

Minister Tulk commented that the histories of these root cellars have attracted visitors from as far away as Australia and the United States. "Tourism Elliston has been busily promoting the area�s uniqueness and their efforts have paid off," he said. "National and international media attention has resulted in two successful tourism seasons for the town. The next phase of this initiative will build upon these efforts and complete a unique experience for visitors to the town."

Tourism Elliston will hire a heritage planner who, in consultation with Parks Canada, will design and oversee construction of signage exhibits strategically located throughout the cellar sites. In-depth research, undertaken in partnership with the Department of Folklore at Memorial University, has resulted in valuable material for the promotion and interpretation program.

The initiative will yield eight to ten construction jobs and five seasonal jobs in the long-term. Increased tourism spending will result in spin-off for existing business operators as well.

The three-year $81.25 million Canada-Newfoundland Agreement for the Economic Development Component of the Canadian Fisheries Adjustment and Restructuring Initiative (EDC), was signed on August 16, 1999. The agreement is designed to build upon the strategic plans and priorities of the Regional Economic Development Boards to improve the long-term economic climate in regions impacted by the downturn in the groundfish industry.

It is delivered federally by ACOA and provincially by the Department of Development and Rural Renewal.

For more information, please contact:

Doug Burgess
ACOA
(709) 772-2935

Josephine Cheeseman
Department of Development and Rural Renewal
(709) 729-4570