Provincial parks and reserves experience increase in visitation

Julie Bettney, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, today announced that provincial parks and ecological reserves have experienced significant increases in visitation so far this season.

In provincial parks, the registered camping units per night for 2003 is up by 13 per cent to date in comparison with last season. The province�s two ecological reserves, Burnt Cape and Cape St. Mary�s, also showed a 14 per cent increase in daily visitors. The majority of the visitors to these two sites are non-resident.

"I am very pleased that so many tourists and residents are enjoying our provincial parks," said Minister Bettney. "For two consecutive years, the trend in camper night registration in provincial parks has increased. These increases show that Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, as well as tourists, are becoming more interested in visiting the natural beauty of our parks."

There are a total of 14 provincial parks where Newfoundlanders and Labradorians and out-of-province visitors can enjoy many outdoor activities such as camping, hiking, bicycling and bird watching. Visitors can also enjoy the natural scenic beauty of our province at six scenic and attraction parks and 11 park reserves. There are also two wilderness and 17 ecological reserves in the province which have been set aside to protect large tracts of wilderness, representing the province�s 19 natural regions and extraordinary features such as seabird colonies, rare plants and significant fossil sites. An environmental interpretation program is open to the public at J.T. Cheeseman, Barachois Pond, Notre Dame, Lockston Path, Butter Pot and LaManche provincial parks and Burnt Cape and Cape St. Mary�s ecological reserves.

Feedback from visitors has been very complementary as well. "Visitors have been telling our parks staff how much they have enjoyed every part of our province," said Minister Bettney. "Many of them stay at several of our parks and have complimented our staff on how spacious, beautiful and clean the sites are. Visitors have also commented on the friendly helpfulness of staff and how much they have enjoyed the hikes and interpretive programs which are offered. I commend the Provincial Parks and Natural Areas field staff for being outstanding ambassadors to our parks and reserve visitors."

Many visitors have been accessing the Provincial Parks and Natural Areas reservation line and website at www.gov.nl.ca/parks&reserves.

Media contact: Vanessa Colman-Sadd, Communications, (709) 729-0857.

2003 08 08                                    10:50 a.m.