Funding for Receiving the World Celebrations confirmed

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador has provided $3.235 million to its Special Celebrations Division for Receiving the World: Celebrating Communications.

"These celebrations will commemorate the unparalleled achievement of Guglielmo Marconi and bring recognition to our province�s remarkable history and its own achievements in wireless technology," said Kevin Aylward, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation and minister responsible for special celebrations.

The minister said: "Receiving the World: Celebrating Communications is designed to serve a dual purpose of stimulating tourism growth and focussing attention on wireless technology and this province�s achievements and potential for further growth in this sector. We will bring international attention to our wireless technology, marine communications and other areas of the information technology sector. In acknowledging Marconi�s achievements we will demonstrate our role in global communications and have the opportunity to consult with world leaders in the telecommunications sector."

Tourism remains one of the fastest growing, most vibrant sectors of our economy. From 1996 to 1999 visitation to the province increased more than 30 per cent and an estimated 426,000 non-residents came to the province during the year 2000. Four years ago government adopted a tourism marketing strategy which included a major focus on the province�s history. It began with Cabot 500, celebrating 500 years of discovery by the Europeans, continued with Soiree 99 to mark the 50^th anniversary of Confederation with Canada, and last year we highlighted the Vikings� discovery of North America when they arrived at L�anse aux Meadows 1,000 years earlier.

Receiving the World: Celebrating Communications will encompass a series of community events around the province and a major kite festival in St. John�s on Canada Day. One of the highlights of this year�s events is the Wireless Vision Congress in September. This conference will bring together more than 500 delegates from countries throughout the world - visionaries and experts in wireless communications - to study the impact of this technology on healthcare, education and the economy.

Media contact: Catherina Kennedy, Communications, (709) 729-0928.

2001 03 22               4:40 p.m.