Tourism, Culture and Recreation
October 3, 2012
Provincial Parks Attract More Campers During the 2012 Season
With more than 64,000 camping nights sold, there was a 7.8 per cent increase in occupancy rates in provincial parks in Newfoundland and Labrador this camping season. In addition, there was a 9.1 per cent increase in the number of reservations booked through the campsite reservation system, marking the sixth consecutive year of growth in its usage.
“I am very pleased with the continued growth our camping parks have experienced this year, and I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who visited them this summer, both out-of-province visitors and residents alike,” said the Honourable Terry French, Minister of Environment and Conservation. “Even though our campgrounds are closed for the season, we still encourage everyone to explore and enjoy our natural areas throughout the fall and winter. Protected areas offer wonderful opportunities for hiking, photography and outdoor recreation.”
All 13 campgrounds are now closed for the 2012 camping season. These include Barachois Pond, Blow Me Down, Butter Pot, Dildo Run, Frenchman’s Cove, J.T. Cheeseman, La Manche, Lockston Path, Notre Dame, Pinware River, Pistolet Bay, Sandbanks and Sir Richard Squires Memorial Provincial Park. Cape St. Mary’s and Burnt Cape ecological reserves remain open until October 7, while Mistaken Point Ecological Reserve is open until October 8. Day-use parks – Chance Cove, the Arches, Cataracts, Codroy Valley, Deadman’s Bay, Dungeon and Gooseberry Cove – will close October 9.
“Newfoundland and Labrador is clearly a tourism destination unlike any other,” said the Honourable Derrick Dalley, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation. “We are fortunate that our provincial parks and natural areas offer such a unique glimpse into this province’s spectacular natural history. This makes our camping parks, ecological and wilderness reserves, and day-use parks valuable contributors to our tourism industry.”
The Parks and Natural Areas Division is responsible for the management of 54 parks and protected areas, including 13 camping parks, seven day-use parks, T’Railway Provincial Park, 10 park reserves, one waterway provincial park, two wilderness reserves, 18 ecological reserves, one public reserve and a special management area. These areas protect significant natural features of the province, while also providing outdoor recreation, education and research opportunities.
For more information about provincial parks, wilderness and ecological reserves, call the Parks and Natural Areas Division at 709-635-4520 or visit www.gov.nl.ca/env/parks
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Media contacts:
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Melony O’Neill Director of Communications Department of Environment and Conservation 709-729-2575, 689-0928 moneill@gov.nl.ca |
Diana Quinton Director of Communications Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation 709-729-0928, 631-8155 dianaquinton@gov.nl.ca |
2012 10 03 9:45 a.m.