Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development
June 25, 2015
Supporting our Tourism Industry
Visitor Information Centres Receive $143,500 in Funding
The Provincial Government has provided 22 regional visitor information centres throughout Newfoundland and Labrador with a total of $143,500 in operational support through the Visitor Information Centre Program.
“As a government, we are delighted with the ground-breaking success we have seen throughout the tourism industry. The Find Yourself campaign has become one of the most recognizable marketing campaigns in the country, and we are seeing this success through the increasing number of tourists visiting the province. We want to offer these visitors the best experience possible. The ability to access information about events, accommodations and amenities throughout the province is an essential part of the tourism experience. We are proud to support regional visitor information centres with $143,500 in funding.”
- The Honourable Darin King, Minister of Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development
The regional visitor information centres in the province are located in Baie Verte, Bay Bulls, Bay Roberts, Conne River, Corner Brook, Elliston, Gambo, Gander, Glovertown, Gros Morne, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Harbour Grace, Hawke’s Bay, Labrador Straits, Labrador City, Manuels, Marystown, Mount Pearl, Newville, Springdale, St. Anthony and St. John’s.
“Newfoundland and Labrador has become a tourism destination which is admired around the world both for its unique marketing campaigns and the world class attractions which they feature. This level of success would not be possible without the over 2,500 tourism and travel businesses throughout Newfoundland and Labrador, 83 per cent of which are small businesses.”
- Minister King
The Provincial Government also operates eight Provincial Visitor Information Centres throughout Newfoundland and Labrador. These are located in Port aux Basques, Deer Lake Highway, Notre Dame Junction, Clarenville, Whitbourne and Argentia. There are two other Visitor Information Centres located within airports at Deer Lake and St. John’s.
The awareness of, and interest in, Newfoundland and Labrador as a tourism destination is at an all-time high. This is in part due to strategic investment in branding and marketing. To build on this momentum, Budget 2015 includes a $2 million increase to the tourism marketing budget, bringing the total budget to $13 million.
QUICK FACTS
- Through the Visitor Information Centre Program, the Provincial Government has provided 22 regional visitor information centres a total of $143,500 in operational support.
- Tourism spending reached $1 billion for the first time in 2011.
- The province welcomed more than 1.5 million non-resident visitors from 2012-2014, while non-resident tourism spending increased 36 per cent, reaching $491 million in 2014, the highest level of non-resident spending ever in the province.
- With a $100 million investment since 2006, the tourism brand is stronger than ever, and the Find Yourself campaign has become one of the most recognizable advertising campaigns in the country, earning more than 227 national and international awards.
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Media contact:
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Tansy Mundon Director of Communications Department of Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development 709-729-4570, 693-1865 tansymundon@gov.nl.ca |
2015 06 25 10:20 a.m.