November 2, 1999
(Tourism, Culture and Recreation)

Minister announces record tourism performance

Charles Furey, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, today announced that 1999 has been a record year for tourism performance in Newfoundland and Labrador. Minister Furey made the announcement earlier today during Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador's fall general meeting in Corner Brook.

"For the first time ever, we forecast that non-resident visitation will top 400,000," said Furey. "The final numbers cannot be calculated until year end but we expect approximately 402,800 people will have visited the province by December 31, spending approximately $256 million. This is a growth in non-resident visitation of eight per cent over 1998 and 31 per cent since 1996. This signifies that Newfoundland and Labrador is now an established tourism destination in the minds of the traveling public."

This increase can be further viewed by specific modes of transportation that visitors use. For instance:

- Non-resident auto visitation is up by 11 per cent for the first nine months of 1999.

- The number of passengers visiting the province by air charter is up by 14 per cent and scheduled air passengers flying to the province is up by eight per cent.

- Marine Atlantic's motor coach traffic from May-September is up by 26 per cent.

- Airport activity at all major airports is up 9.9 per cent (year to date).

- Cruise ship activity increased 71 per cent during 1999.

"These increases are great news for the businesses in the province," said Furey. "For instance, provincial hotel occupancy is up by 11 per cent overall and up by 12 per cent in St. John's. This type of heightened activity in areas throughout the province should result in increased investment and employment opportunities for our people."

The minister noted that the increase in visitation is spread throughout the province. "1999 has been a great year for many areas in the province. For instance, visitation to L'Anse aux Meadows and Red Bay National Historic Sites is up over 20 per cent. The number of people visiting Cape St. Mary's increased by 19 per cent and the number of people stopping into our Visitor Information Centres around the province increased by 11 per cent. We expect even further growth in 2000 during the Viking celebrations."

"Our overall marketing objective is to increase visitation to the province and to increase revenues from tourism. We are achieving this goal with our clearly focused marketing strategy that highlights the natural and cultural strengths throughout Newfoundland and Labrador," said Furey. "The preliminary numbers we have received for 1999 will set the pace for growth for future years."

Stelman Flynn, president of Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador, was also enthusiastic about tourism numbers for this year. "The statistics announced today confirm what our members reported in a membership survey conducted earlier this fall. 1999 has been a banner year for tourism in the province. The joint effort by industry and government was a major factor in this success," said Flynn.

Media contact: Tara Laing, Communications, (709) 729-0928.

1999 11 02 3:30 p.m.