• A sluggish resident travel market and declines in non-resident auto traffic were likely the main contributors to a more mixed performance in the province= s regions.
   

• Declining auto visits were also reflected in lower visitation at Newfoundland and Labrador= s Provincial and National historic sites, museums, Visitor Information Centres (VICs) and most public and commercial campgrounds. Poor weather especially in the early part of the season also may have affected camping, a popular resident holiday activity.
   

• The Avalon Region overall reported record growth because of the double-digit increase in air passenger traffic overall. Car rental revenue was up 2 per cent and roofed occupancy overall was on par with 2003. Both LaManche and Butter Pot Provincial Parks showed increases of nearly 16 per cent and 3 per cent, respectively. Commissariat House showed an increase of nearly 22 per cent in visitation and the Colony of Avalon recorded an even year after in part to a very strong meetings and conventions market experienced in August.
   

• The Eastern Region including the Burin and Bonavista Peninsulas reported a mixed season. Provincial parks reported a slight decline of -3 per cent. All provincial historic sites reported declines in visitation with the exception of the newly refurbished Bonavista Lighthouse which reported and increase of 5 per cent in visitation in 2004, compared to 2003.
   

• Visitation results were less encouraging in Central Region, reflecting the decline in auto visits. While air passenger movements were on par at Gander Airport, roofed occupancy dropped nearly 7 per cent. All other indicators for the region were also down, ranging from a slight decline in visitation at the Mary March Museum of nearly 1 per cent to a drop in public campgrounds of 8 per cent.
   

• Western Region also was impacted by the decline in auto and especially the late-season strike by Parks Canada employees which began in August and ended in October. 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 reported declines in visitation. Deer Lake Airport, however, reported a record year of growth, with passenger travel movements increasing a whopping 18 per cent. Roofed occupancy, while down overall -2 per cent, had some bright spots. The Viking Trail reported an increase in occupancy of 16 per cent and Deer Lake-Corner Brook reported an increase of 3 per cent. Pistolet Bay Provincial Park reported another good year, increasing camper nights by 1 per cent.
   

• Labrador also benefitted from increased air traffic volumes, as reflected in airport activity, and held its own in room nights sold overall. Roofed accommodations were reported up in Happy Valley-Goose Bay and Nain-Rigolet.

Selected Travel/Tourism Indicators
Avalon Region: 2003 and 2004

Selected Travel/Tourism Indicators
Eastern Region: 2003 and 2004

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