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Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation
Backgrounder
Mid-Season Regional Tourism Performance
Overall Performance:
- To the end of December 2003, there were an estimated 441,400
non-resident visits to Newfoundland and Labrador and an estimated $316
million in tourism expenditures in the Province. Visitors and associated
expenditures were on par in 2003 with tourism growth in 2002.
- Despite a soft start and a mixed picture in the Province’s regions,
Newfoundland and Labrador is on track for an improved performance
overall in tourism in 2004, compared to 2003.
- While Marine Atlantic traffic levels are down from 2003 volumes, both
airport and cruise traffic have increased. Passenger movements in and
out of the province by the airlines accounts for the largest share
of all traffic movements annually. Ferry passenger traffic is down 9%
to the end of August, air travel is up 13% for the period ending
August, thanks largely to a more competitive airline industry. This has
translated into a record convention year with a 40% increase in
2004. Pending cancellations, the cruise industry in 2004 is reporting nearly
double the number of visits in 2003.
- Tourism inquiries remain strong, up 5% to the end of August,
indicating continued interest in our destination, and there is good
growth seen through the travel trade. This bodes well for the fall
season and beyond.
Regional Overview:
- A sluggish resident travel market and declines in non-resident auto
traffic are likely the main contributors to a more mixed performance in
the province’s regions.
- Declining auto visits are also reflected in lower visitation at
Newfoundland and Labrador’s Provincial and National historic sites,
museums, VICs and most public and commercial campgrounds. Poor weather
especially in the early part of the season may have affected camping, a
popular resident holiday activity.
- The Avalon Region overall is reporting record growth because of the
double-digit increase in air passenger traffic overall and a 10% growth
in direct international arrivals. Car rental revenue is up 3% and roofed
occupancy overall is on par with 2003. Both LaManche and Butter Pot
Provincial Parks showed increases of nearly 16% and 3%, respectively.
Commissariat House showed an increase of nearly 30% in visitation and
the Colony of Avalon recorded an increase of 4%, thanks in part to a
very strong meetings and conventions market.
- The Eastern Region including the Burin and Bonavista Peninsulas is
reporting a mixed season. Provincial parks reported a slight decline of
2.7%. All provincial historic sites reported declines in visitation
with the exception of the newly refurbished Bonavista Lighthouse which
reported an increase of 5.5% in visitation in 2004, compared to 2003.
- Visitation results are less encouraging in Central Region, reflecting
the decline in auto visits. While air passenger movements are on par at
Gander Airport, roofed occupancy dropped 9.4%. All other indicators for
the region are also down, ranging from a slight decline in visitation at
the Mary March Museum of nearly 3% to a drop in public campgrounds of
8.3%.
- Western Region also has been impacted by the decline in auto and
especially the late-season strike by Parks Canada employees which has
now reached a tentative agreement. Until July, L’Anse aux Meadows
National Historic Park and Western Brook Pond Boat Tour in Gros Morne
were reporting increases in growth, both indicators of strong
non-resident traffic. All national parks and historic sites are now
reporting declines in visitation, Deer Lake Airport, however, is
reporting a record year of growth, with passenger travel movements
increasing a whopping 18.6%. Roofed occupancy, while down overall 6.2%,
had some bright spots with the Viking Trail reporting an increase in
occupancy of 8.5% and Deer Lake-Corner Brook reporting an increase of
1.4%. Pistolet Bay Provincial Park reported another good year,
increasing camper nights by 1.3%.
- Labrador is also benefitting from increased air traffic volumes, as
reflected in airport activity, and is holding its own in room nights
sold overall. Roofed accommodations are reported up in Happy
Valley-Goose Bay, Wabush Labrador City and Nain-Rigolet.
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Selected Travel/Tourism
Indicators Avalon Region: 2003 and 2004 |
|
Indicator |
Time Period |
2003 |
2004 |
% Change |
|
Argentia Ferry |
Operating Season |
39,364 |
33,393 |
-15.0 |
|
St. John’s Airport |
Year ending August |
634,459 |
728,837 |
14.9 |
|
Direct International
Arrivals |
Year ending May |
5,111 |
5,644 |
10.4 |
|
Car Rental Revenue ($M)
St. John’s Airport |
Year ending August |
$8.1 |
$8.3 |
3.3 |
|
Argentia Chalet |
Operating Season |
8,489 |
7,714 |
-9.1 |
|
Whitbourne Chalet |
Operating Season |
14,064 |
10,919 |
-22.4 |
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Roofed Accommodation
Occupancy Overall |
Year ending September |
60.6 |
60.6 |
0.0 |
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Roofed Accommodation
Occupancy
NW Avalon |
Year ending September |
35.9 |
30.4 |
-15.3 |
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Roofed Accommodation
Occupancy
Argentia, Placentia |
Year ending September |
27.0 |
30.6 |
13.3 |
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Roofed Accommodation
Occupancy
NE Avalon |
Year ending September |
66.8 |
65.2 |
-2.4 |
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Roofed Accommodation
Occupancy
Southern Shore |
Year ending September |
33.2 |
27.9 |
-16.0 |
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Provincial Parks Overall
Camping Units |
Operating Season |
20,107 |
21,278 |
5.8 |
|
Butterpot Camping Units |
Operating Season |
15,135 |
15,523 |
2.6 |
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La Manche
Camping Units |
Operating Season |
4,972 |
5,777 |
15.7 |
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Provincial Archives |
Year ending September |
6,133 |
3,882 |
-36.7 |
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Provincial Museum of NL |
July & August |
5,340 |
3,980 |
-25.5 |
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Heart’s Content Cable
Station |
Operating Season ending
September |
7,496 |
5,753 |
-23.3 |
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Commissariat House |
Operating Season ending
September |
2,791 |
3,621 |
29.7 |
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Quidi Vidi Battery |
Operating Season ending
September |
3,699 |
2,757 |
-25.5 |
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Hawthorne Cottage |
Operating Season ending
August |
4,963 |
3,815 |
-23.1 |
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Castle Hill |
Operating Season ending
September |
15,896 |
11,990 |
-24.6 |
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Cape St. Mary’s |
Operating Season |
22,177 |
15,725 |
-29.1 |
|
Colony of Avalon (Ferryland) |
Operating Season ending
August |
13,927 |
14,479 |
4.0 |
Roofed Accommodation occupancy rates are
subject to change pending further reporting by operators. Commercial
Campground data at the regional level is under review.
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Selected Travel/Tourism
Indicators Eastern Region: 2003 and 2004 |
|
Indicator |
Time Period |
2003 |
2004 |
% Change |
|
Clarenville Chalet |
Operating Season |
10,821 |
9,091 |
-16.0 |
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Roofed Accommodation
Occupancy Overall |
Year ending September |
46.6 |
43.3 |
-7.1 |
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Roofed Accommodation
Occupancy
Bonavista Pen. |
Year ending September |
49.6 |
44.1 |
-11.1 |
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Roofed Accommodation
Occupancy
Burin Pen. |
Year ending September |
38.6 |
29.9 |
-22.5 |
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Provincial Parks Overall
Camping Units |
Operating Season |
7,230 |
7,034 |
-2.7 |
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Lockston Path Camping
Units |
Operating Season |
3,988 |
3,934 |
-1.4 |
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Frenchman’s Cove
Camping Units |
Operating Season |
3,242 |
3,100 |
-4.4 |
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Trinity Interpretation
Centre |
Operating Season ending
September |
6,326 |
5,261 |
-16.8 |
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Hiscock House |
Operating Season ending
September |
4,863 |
4,143 |
-14.8 |
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Ryan Shop Mercantile
Bldg |
Operating Season ending
September |
5,900 |
4,107 |
-30.4 |
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Bonavista Lighthouse |
Operating Season ending
September |
12,187 |
12,863 |
5.5 |
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Mockbeggar Property |
Operating Season ending
September |
3,173 |
2,477 |
-21.9 |
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Ryan Premises |
Operating Season ending
September |
8,319 |
7,274 |
-12.6 |
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Seamen’s Museum |
Operating Season ending
August |
4,426 |
3,855 |
-12.9 |
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Arrivals Fortune Custom
Office |
May to September |
12,923 |
12,127 |
-6.2 |
Roofed Accommodation occupancy rates are
subject to change pending further reporting by operators. Commercial
Campground data at the regional level is under review.
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Selected Travel/Tourism
Indicators Central Region: 2003 and 2004 |
|
Indicator |
Time Period |
2003 |
2004 |
% Change |
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Gander Airport |
Year ending August |
56,300 |
56,573 |
0.5 |
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Notre Dame Jct Chalet |
Operating Season |
11,611 |
9,711 |
-16.4 |
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Roofed Accommodation
Occupancy Overall |
Year ending September |
41.7 |
37.8 |
-9.4 |
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Roofed Accommodation
Occupancy
Baie Verte, Green Bay. |
Year ending September |
26.2 |
21.7 |
-17.2 |
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Roofed Accommodation
Occupancy
Grand Falls, Windsor. |
Year ending September |
47.9 |
40.8 |
-14.8 |
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Roofed Accommodation
Occupancy
Bay D’Espoir |
Year ending September |
30.4 |
25.5 |
-16.1 |
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Roofed Accommodation
Occupancy
Gander, Twillingate east to Terra Nova |
Year ending September |
43.6 |
40.6 |
-6.9 |
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Provincial Parks Overall
Camping Units |
Operating Season |
9,356 |
8,580 |
-8.3 |
|
Dildo Run Camping Units |
Operating Season |
2,129 |
1,748 |
-17.9 |
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Notre Dame
Camping Units |
Operating Season |
7,227 |
6,832 |
-5.5 |
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Boyd’s Cove |
Operating Season ending
September |
7,953 |
7,388 |
-7.1 |
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Mary March Museum |
Operating Season ending
August |
5,954 |
5,789 |
-2.8 |
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Logging Exhibit |
Operating Season ending
August |
3,915 |
3,848 |
-1.7 |
Roofed Accommodation occupancy rates are
subject to change pending further reporting by operators. Commercial
Campground data at the regional level is under review.
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Selected Travel/Tourism
Indicators Western Region: 2003 and 2004 |
|
Indicator |
Time Period |
2003 |
2004 |
% Change |
|
Port aux Basques Ferry |
Year ending September |
353,867 |
326,052 |
-7.9 |
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Deer Lake Airport |
Year ending August |
115,966 |
137,540 |
18.6 |
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Stephenville Airport |
Year ending August |
16,142 |
13,884 |
-14.0 |
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St. Anthony Airport |
Year ending August |
16,643 |
16,516 |
-0.8 |
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Deer Lake Chalet |
Operating Season |
23,269 |
16,926 |
-27.3 |
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Port aux Basques Chalet |
Operating Season |
30,253 |
24,663 |
-18.5 |
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Roofed Accommodation
Occupancy Overall |
Year ending September |
43.3 |
40.6 |
-6.2 |
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Roofed Accommodation
Occupancy
Viking Trail. |
Year ending September |
38.7 |
42.0 |
8.5 |
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Roofed Accommodation
Occupancy
Gros Morne.
|
Year ending September |
39.2 |
34.0 |
-13.3 |
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Roofed Accommodation
Occupancy
Deer Lake, Corner Brook |
Year ending September |
49.1 |
49.8 |
1.4 |
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Roofed Accommodation
Occupancy
Stephenville Area |
Year ending September |
37.5 |
32.3 |
-13.9 |
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Roofed Accommodation
Occupancy
Port aux Basques Area |
Year ending September |
39.4 |
32.3 |
-18.0 |
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Provincial Parks Overall
Camping Units |
Operating Season |
20,998 |
19,076 |
-9.2 |
|
Barachois Camping Units |
Operating Season |
10,673 |
9,831 |
-7.9 |
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Blow me Down
Camping Units |
Operating Season |
1,087 |
987 |
-9.2 |
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Cheeseman
Camping Units |
Operating Season |
3,418 |
2,688 |
-21.4 |
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Pistolet Bay Camping
Units |
Operating Season |
1,964 |
1,989 |
1.3 |
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Sandbanks
Camping Units |
Operating Season |
1,319 |
1,217 |
-7.7 |
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Squires Memorial Camping
Units |
Operating Season |
2,537 |
2,364 |
-6.8 |
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Gros Morne Camper Nights |
Operating Season ending
July |
7,349 |
6,496 |
-11.6 |
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L’ Anse aux Meadows |
Operating Season ending
August |
28,866 |
28,450 |
-1.4 |
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Port au Choix |
Operating Season ending
September |
13,901 |
10,436 |
-24.9 |
Roofed Accommodation occupancy rates are
subject to change pending further reporting by operators. Commercial
Campground data at the regional level is under review.
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Selected Travel/Tourism
Indicators Labrador Region: 2003 and 2004 |
|
Indicator |
Time Period |
2003 |
2004 |
% Change |
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Wabush Airport |
Year ending August |
32,827 |
37,033 |
12.8 |
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Goose Bay Airport |
Year ending August |
53,009 |
58,894 |
11.1 |
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Labrador Straits Ferry |
June & July |
29,761 |
26,315 |
-11.6 |
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Roofed Accommodation
Occupancy
Overall |
Year ending September |
39.0 |
38.5 |
-1.3 |
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Roofed Accommodation
Occupancy
Rigolet to Nain |
Year ending September |
34.6 |
44.8 |
29.5 |
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Roofed Accommodation
Occupancy
Labrador West |
Year ending September |
41.8 |
38.6 |
-7.7 |
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Roofed Accommodation
Occupancy
Goose Bay |
Year ending September |
39.2 |
47.6 |
21.4 |
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Roofed Accommodation
Occupancy
Mary’s Hr, Cartwright |
Year ending September |
38.0 |
13.6 |
-64.2 |
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Roofed Accommodation
Occupancy
Labrador Straits |
Year ending September |
36.9 |
17.6 |
-52.3 |
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Pinware River Camping
Units |
Operating Season |
667 |
445 |
-33.3 |
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Red Bay |
Operating Season to
September |
10,244 |
9,647 |
-5.8 |
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Point Amour Lighthouse |
Operating Season to
October |
5,904 |
5,765 |
-2.4 |
Roofed Accommodation occupancy rates are subject to change pending
further reporting by operators. Commercial Campground data at the regional
level is under review.
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