Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation
June 5, 2017
Provincial Government Invests in Season Extension Program
On the weekend, the Provincial Government, as part of Tourism Awareness Week 2017, announced $144,000 towards the continuation of the tourism season expansion initiative through exciting season extension festivals and events.
This funding will help facilitate the development of tourism experiences, services and attractions of nine festivals and events such as;
- Spring - Trails, Tales and Tunes in Norris Point; Iceberg Festival in St. Anthony; and Songs, Stages, and Seafood in Bay Roberts.
- Fall - Roots, Rants, and Roars Culinary Festival in Elliston; Gros Morne Fall Fest in Cow Head; and Unscripted Digital Arts Festival in Twillingate.
- Winter - Snow West Winter Festival in Corner Brook; Mid-Winter Bivver in Central; and Cain’s Quest snowmobile race in Labrador.
Currently, 15 per cent of non-resident air and auto visitation occurs in May and June; and 20 per cent of non-resident air and auto visitation occurs in September and October.
The tourism industry generates approximately $1 billion in visitor spending each year, and is responsible for over 18,000 direct jobs in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Quote
"Initiatives like season extension play a key role in our government’s goal outlined in The Way Forward to double resident and non-resident visitor spending by 2020. Funding, through the season extension program, helps tourism operators, services and attractions stay open beyond our province’s peak tourism season, increasing visitor spending and the viability of tourism businesses. As a government, we recognize the importance of supporting festivals and events during all seasons, like the Iceberg Festival on the great Northern Peninsula, as they help grow and strengthen the local economy."
Honourable Christopher Mitchelmore
Minister of Tourism, Culture, Industry, and Innovation
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Learn More
Annual Iceberg Fesitval - theicebergfestival.ca
Department of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation - www.gov.nl.ca/TCII
Follow on Twitter: @GovNL @TCII_GovNL and @TheIcebergFest
Media contact
Eric Humber
Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation
709-729-4819, 725-9655
erichumber@gov.nl.ca
2017 06 05 11:25 a.m.