Third-quarter tourism indicators show encouraging results for 2000 tourism season

Charles Furey, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, is pleased to announce encouraging results for the third quarter of the 2000 tourism season and continuing gains for the province in key markets.

Overall, Marine Atlantic traffic is up over eight per cent. Non-resident automobile visitors have increased eight per cent for the first eight months of 2000. Importantly, the province has made gains in target markets from the Maritimes and Ontario, up 17 per cent and two per cent respectively. And for the first time ever, incoming traffic on the ferries continued strongly through August, showing a broadening, as well as a heightening, of the season peak.

"The impact of the four vessels and the increased capacity on the Gulf ferry system is undeniable," said Minister Furey. "With sufficient capacity, we were able to move all customers during the peak tourism season in 2000."

"We are still compiling information from various trade partners," noted Minister Furey, "but it looks like a successful group touring season demonstrating strong increases over 1999." Signature Vacations reports an increase of 64 per cent overall in its arrivals into Deer Lake, Gander, Stephenville and St. John�s. To date, American-based Collette Tours has reported increases of 152 per cent in activity over 1999. Collette has also announced that it has changed the 2001 itinerary of its Eastern Canada tour to focus exclusively on Newfoundland, with a group tour called "Newfoundland and Labrador and the Viking Trail" and an independent tour focusing on "Spectacular St. John�s."

Tourism visitation in western Newfoundland and southern Labrador is clearly showing the impact of heightened awareness generated through the Vikings! 1000 Years celebrations with major increases reported at all the national parks and national historic sites in western Newfoundland and the Labrador Straits. The new ferry Apollo on the St. Barbe run has resulted in a 14 per cent increase in passenger movements in July and August 2000, compared to the same period in 1999. Other highlights include provincial parks which are reporting an overall increase in camper nights of two per cent.

The province�s system of historic sites is reporting a decrease in visits of 18 per cent overall. "I am especially pleased, however, at the interest shown in the Beothuck Interpretation Centre at Boyd�s Cove, Notre Dame Bay," noted the minister. "This superb facility, officially opened this year, is attracting significant interest and visitation, an increase of 24 per cent over last year, as is the re-opened battery at Quidi Vidi which has increased visitation of 43 per cent."

Visitation at historic sites on the Bonavista Peninsula has declined most significantly - 33 per cent while all other sites combined have shown an increase of two per cent. Construction at Cape Bonavista Lighthouse is thought to be a factor, as is the introduction of entrance fees in 1999. Restaurant and accommodations operators on the Bonavista Peninsula, however, are reporting a satisfactory year, on par or better than 1999, in part because of tourism activity and revenue generated through the filming of "Random Passage" at White Point, near Trinity, the opening of the Rising Tide theatre in Trinity, and the continuing success of the Trinity Pageant.

Airport charter passenger movements showed a decrease of one per cent for the first eight months of 2000 while regularly scheduled passenger movements decreased two per cent for the same reporting period. This is a slight improvement in regular scheduled passenger movements over the first six months of 2000 which showed a decrease of three per cent. When the peak season figures for July and August are compared, however, scheduled air passenger movements are on par with 1999, while charter passenger movements show a slight increase of .5 per cent. Direct international arrivals (St. John�s airport) have increased a whopping 17 per cent for the first eight months of 2000. Car rental revenues at St. John�s airport have increased 11 per cent for the first eight months of 2000.

"With the increased growth in tourism and the economy as a whole, the province is still suffering in terms of airline capacity, although the situation is still fluid," notes Minister Furey. "We are looking forward eagerly to anticipated increases in capacity for the winter and summer of 2001. We are very encouraged by the increased competition overall provided by Canada 3000, CanJet and Royal."

Consistent with other provinces and Canada as a whole, hotel occupancy in St. John�s, as measured by Pannell Kerr Forster, has also decreased an estimated five per cent for the first seven months of 2000. By comparison, Atlantic Canada as a whole declined five per cent. Prince Edward Island declined nine per cent, Nova Scotia declined three per cent, New Brunswick declined four per cent, Ontario declined three per cent, while Canada as a whole declined two per cent.

"The tourism industry is reaching a whole new level of activity in the province," said Minister Furey. "I am looking forward to our year-end figures and beyond to 2001. Next year, we have new high-end hotel capacity coming on-stream in St. John�s and a new resort is planned for the Humber Valley. There is very high interest and inquiries in the cruise sector, and it is expected that port calls will exceed 2000 level. Conventions are expected to exceed the record year set during the Cabot 500 in 1997 and a number of operators are saying they expect to have a good year in 2001, based on the positive experience and increased awareness generated during the Vikings! 1000 Years celebrations.

"If we can ensure fast and economical access to the province, we can continue to have record years, especially in 2001, as we have been actively promoting the Marconi anniversary."

Media contact: Elizabeth Matthews, Communications, (709) 729-0928.

 Backgrounder

• During 1997 the province of Newfoundland and Labrador celebrated the 500th aniversary of John Cabot�s historic voyage from Bristol, England to Newfoundland. This significant celebration resulted in a banner year in non-resident tourism visitation with automobile and air visits increasing approximately 22 per cent over 1996 levels.

• The major legacies of this celebration are the increased awareness of the province�s tourism product, and the continuing growth in visitation. Normally, after a highly successful event, some slippage in visitation can be expected however during 1998 the province held many of the gains established in 1997 and recorded a one per cent increase in non-resident visits. During 1999 the province celebrating the 50th anniversary of Confederation with the Soiree �99 celebrations and recorded a six per cent increase in non-resident auto and air visits over the levels achieved during 1998. Overall, from 1996 to 1999, non-resident tourism visitation increased an estimated 31 per cent.

• Year-to-date 2000 (the year of the Vikings! 1000 Years celebrations), travel and tourism indicators presented in this document are encouraging. The province is exceeding last year�s performance in several key areas.

• Overall, Marine Atlantic passenger traffic and passenger-related vehicle traffic are up eight per cent and nine per cent respectively for the first eight months of 2000.

  • Non-resident automobile visitors have increased eight per cent for the first eight months of 2000.

  • Residents traveling outside the province have increased 10 per cent for the first eight months of 2000.

• Importantly, the province has made major gains in target markets of the Maritimes and Ontario. Data from licence plates show a significant increase from the province�s primary target markets, the Maritime Provinces and Ontario.

  • On the Port aux Basques service, Nova Scotia vehicles increased by 22 per cent for the first eight months of 2000, compared to the same period in 1999. New Brunswick vehicles increased 28 per cent and PEI vehicles increased 34 per cent for the same period. In total, the increase from the Maritime Provinces was 24 per cent. Ontario vehicles increased four per cent in 2000 compared to 1999.

  • Overall vehicle traffic on the Port aux Basques run increased 11 per cent in for the first eight months of 2000, compared to the same period in 1999.

• Airport charter passenger movements showed a decrease of one per cent for the first eight months of 2000 while regularly scheduled passenger movements decreased two per cent for the same reporting period.

  • This is a slight improvement in regular scheduled passenger movements over the first six months of 2000 which showed a decrease of three per cent.

  • Peak season comparison for July and August show that scheduled air passenger movements are on par with 1999, while charter passenger movements show a slight increase of .5 per cent.

• Direct international arrivals (St. John�s airport) have increased 17 per cent for the first eight months of 2000.

• Car rental revenue at the St. John�s airport has increased 11 per cent for the first eight months of 2000.

• Exiting bus traffic on the Marine Atlantic Ferry System increased 15 per cent during the period May to August 2000.

• Consistent with other provinces and Canada as a whole, hotel occupancy in St. John�s, as measured by Pannell Kerr Forster, has also decreased an estimated five per cent for the first seven months of 2000.

  • By comparison, Atlantic Canada as a whole declined five per cent. Prince Edward Island declined nine per cent, Nova Scotia declined three per cent, New Brunswick declined four per cent, Ontario declined three per cent, while Canada as a whole declined two per cent.

• Supplementary data from the Avalon Visitors and Convention Bureau (ACVB) based on room night sales for the City of St. John�s show an exceptionally strong showing in August, with occupancies reported at 85 per cent, four per cent higher than the same period in 1999.

• Signature Vacations reported an overall increase of arrivals of 64 per cent across the province. The regional increases are as follows: arrivals into Deer Lake in 2000 have increased 56 per cent over 1999, arrivals in Gander increased 136 per cent, arrivals in Stephenville increased 14 per cent while arrivals in St. John�s jumped 49 per cent over 1999.

• American-based Collette Tours has reported a 152 per cent increase in activity in the province. The company has also announced that it has changed the 2001 itinerary of its Eastern Canada tour to focus exclusively on Newfoundland. It is offering two tours: "Spectacular St. John�s" and "Newfoundland, Labrador & the Viking Trail" which will have participants spending 10 days experiencing Newfoundland history, culture and scenery at Gros Morne and Terra Nova National Parks, Cape Spear, L�Anse aux Meadows and Red Bay National Historic Parks, as well as Beothuck Provincial Park in Grand Falls-Windsor and the Silent Witness Memorial in Gander.

• Visitors to the provincial chalet system decreased three per cent overall during the period June to August 2000.

  • Visits at Port aux Basques have increased 14 per cent

  • Notre Dame Junction has increased two per cent

  • Decreases of 43 per cent and five per cent at Argentia and Whitbourne, respectively, are related largely to the change of schedule in the Argentia ferry service.

• The ACVB reports that visits to the St. John�s Airport Visitors� Booth are up 64 per cent, to the end of August.

• Tourism visitation in western Newfoundland and southern Labrador is clearly showing the impact of heightened awareness generated through the Vikings! 1000 Years celebrations.

  • L�Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site is reporting an increase of 13 per cent for operating season

  • Port aux Choix National Historic Site is reporting a six per cent increase for the same period, as is Red Bay National Historic Site

  • Gros Morne National Park is reporting an increase of three per cent in camper nights for the period June to August 2000, compared to the same period in 1999.

  • The new ferry Apollo on the St. Barbe run has resulted in a 14 per cent increase in passenger traffic from July to August 2000, compared to the same time period of 1999.

• Provincial Parks are reporting an overall increase in camper nights of two per cent, with Western and Labrador regions especially strong (a nine per cent increase in camper nights). Only the Central region registered a decrease, in this case 10 per cent. Both Eastern and Avalon regions reported increases of one per cent and two per cent respectively.

• Elsewhere in the province, Cape St. Mary�s is reporting a decrease of 18 per cent, largely due to a decline in student visits. Continuing a three-year trend, the Colony of Avalon reported an increase of four per cent and Trinity Pageant is reporting a slight increase of .7 per cent.

• The province�s system of historic sites is reporting a decrease in visits of 18 per cent overall. Sites on the Bonavista Peninsula have declined most significantly - 33 per cent while all other sites combined have shown an increase of two per cent.

  • The Beothuck Interpretation Centre at Boyd�s Cove, Notre Dame Bay increased 24 per cent over last year. The re-opened battery at Quidi Vidi which has increased visitation of 43 per cent. Declines on the Bonavista Peninsula are attributed to, in part, construction at the highly popular Bonavista Lighthouse and the introduction of entry fees in 1999.

• Accommodations and restaurant operators on the Bonavista Peninsula report a good season, on par or above 1999. This is attributed in part to the opening of the Rising Tide Theatre in Trinity, the continuing success of the Trinity Pageant, and business and tourism activity arising from the filming of "Random Passage" at White Point, near Trinity.

• The system of provincial museums (year to date August) report an overall decline of 40 per cent, largely due to a decline in local resident visits and decreases in school programs.

  • the Newfoundland Museum reported a decline of 49 per cent

  • visitors to Mary March Museum declined 19 per cent

  • visits to the Seamen�s Museum, Grand Bank, declined 17 per cent

  • the Logging Museum in Grand Falls-Windsor reported a decline in visits of 54 per cent.

2000 10 04 5:00 p.m.