New winter tourism industry for province unveiled Newfoundland and Labrador received an economic boost today with the announcement of a new snowmobile industry for the province including a proposed multi-million dollar integrated snowmobile trail. Premier Brian Tobin, accompanied by Sandra Kelly, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, and Beaton Tulk, Minister of Development and Rural Renewal, briefed industry representatives today in Corner Brook. "These trails are vital to our efforts to extend our province's tourism season and expand on our existing tourism infrastructure," Premier Tobin said. "The potential for positive economic impact and spin-offs from this project are astounding. The Canadian Council of Snowmobile Organizations (CCSO) reports snowmobiling-related dollars spent by Canadians is in excess of $2 billion annually, and the industry has experienced significant growth in Canada - five per cent yearly since the early 1990s. This infrastructure will position us to attract more of those dollars to Newfoundland and Labrador from national and international markets." The first phase of this three-year project is for the development of trails in the western region of the province, from St. David's to St. Anthony and east to Clarenville. The required $5.8 million for the project will be used to purchase six groomers, to develop signage, and to hire labourers. Years two and three would see major trail development inter-connecting the rest of the province as well as four additional groomers. "Newfoundland has huge potential in winter tourism and especially for snowmobile enthusiasts," Minister Kelly said. "We have the components of a high-quality product - lots of snow, a long season compared to other parts of Canada, wide open countryside, breathtaking scenery, abundance of wildlife, and a clean environment." "This province needs to capitalize on the growing snowmobile industry," Minister Beaton Tulk said. "A well-designed, highly groomed, attractive and accurately signed, integrated trail system will be a welcome addition to the rural Newfoundland economy, especially those areas hit hard by the cod moratorium. These trails will diversify our tourism industry particularly in rural Newfoundland, and offer a new and exciting attraction to winter enthusiasts." Mr. Tulk commended various regional economic development boards for the "key roles they played in identifying these trails as strategic priorities for economic diversification." "There is great potential for growth in this industry in our province," said Leyon Williams, president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Snowmobilers (NLFS). "Snowmobiling has long been a popular winter activity here. Our province has 10 per cent of the total registered snowmobiles in Canada, and 27 per cent of the population own one or more snowmobiles. The activity in snowmobiling in Newfoundland is mostly for recreational uses by residents. However, in recent years, there has been growth in the use of snowmobiles by non-residents for touring purposes. We now have the partners in place to build upon this trend and tap into new markets." Total cost for the project is estimated at approximately $5.8 million. An agreement in principal has been reached with the federal government. It is anticipated that funding for the project will be provided through federal/provincial agreements administered federally by ACOA and HRDC. Employment impacts are estimated at 519 jobs throughout three phases of construction, and just over 700 direct/indirect jobs over the subsequent three years post-development. Contact: Heidi Bonnell,
Premier's Office, (709) 729-3564
Government of
Newfoundland and Labrador New Winter Tourism Industry for the Province Unveiled
For more information contact: Heidi Bonnell Leyon D. Williams
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