NOTE TO EDITORS: Minister to visit west coast during Tourism Awareness Week

Tom Hedderson, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, will be attending tourism events on the west coast of the province to promote the new No Place Like Home campaign and the tourism industry overall.

Minister Hedderson will be the guest speaker tonight (June 5) at the Taste of Newfoundland and Labrador Dinner, hosted by the Port aux Basques and Area Chamber of Commerce. The event takes place at the Port aux Basques Hotel at 7 p.m.

Tomorrow (June 6) Minister Hedderson will be speaking at a luncheon during the Summer Tourism Forum in Corner Brook, hosted by the Corner Brook Economic Development Corporation and Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador. The luncheon takes place at the Humber Valley Resort at 1 p.m.

Media representatives are invited to attend both events. Minister Hedderson will be available for interviews.

No Place Like Home, the new in-province campaign, is designed to encourage residents to be tourists at home this year. The campaign includes television, print and radio advertising which direct people to a customized web site www.noplacelikehome.travel. The web site features getaway packages and value coupons for travel around the province. Packages include everything from hotel and golf getaways to a kayaking and picnic adventure.

There will be free admission to all provincial historic sites and museums during Tourism Awareness Week (June 5-11).

For a listing of festivals and events going on around the western region this summer, check out the 2006 Travel guide at //www.newfoundlandandlabradortourism.com/festivals_search_results.zap

Media contact: Susanne Hiller, Director of Communications (709) 729-0928, 728-7762; susannehiller@gov.nl.ca

2006 06 05                                           1:55 p.m.