Atlantic Canada Cruise Association Plans for Future Growth

From: Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency

News release

July 3, 2018 – Saint John, NB – Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency

Last year was the best ever for tourism in Canada, as we welcomed a record of 20.8 million international visitors to our shores. The tourism industry is an important economic driver in our communities, as one in 10 jobs in Canada is associated with the visitor economy. Investing in tourism projects in both big cities and small towns throughout Atlantic Canada is essential to growing this important economic sector for Canadians. By investing in our tourism sector, we attract new visitors, grow businesses and create new ones, generating economic growth for the middle class.

That is why the Government of Canada and the four Atlantic Provinces support the Atlantic Canada Cruise Association (ACCA) and its work to promote Atlantic Canada as a preferred cruise destination and to achieve maximum cruise capacity in the region during the spring, summer and fall seasons.

Wayne Long, Member of Parliament for Saint John-Rothesay, on behalf of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science, and Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), along with the Honourable John Ames, New Brunswick Minister of Tourism, Heritage and Culture, on behalf of the four Atlantic Provinces, today announced support for the ACCA to implement a three-year marketing plan to maximize the Atlantic Canada cruise industry.

Through its Business Development Program, ACOA is providing a non-repayable contribution of $329,000. Parks Canada, the provincial tourism departments, partnership ports, and cruise ship interests in each of the four Atlantic Provinces are providing the remaining balance of funding to help ACCA continue its traditional marketing activities and increase its social media efforts in order to increase passenger visitations.

This investment builds on commitments made by the Government of Canada and the four Atlantic Provinces to drive economic growth in the region through the Atlantic Growth Strategy by helping the region’s tourism industry attract more visitors and create new jobs across the region. This bold new approach is in line with Canada’s Tourism Vision, which seeks to make Canada a top-ten global tourism destination by 2025.

Quotes

“Atlantic Canada has a lot to offer visitors. With our diverse and awe-inspiring landscape, and our vibrant cultural traditions, our tourism operators continue to find innovative ways to promote authentic experiences to visitors. The Government of Canada is pleased to support the ACCA as it strategically develops the cruise industry in Atlantic Canada, bringing new visitors to our shores and showcasing our region on a global scale.”

- Wayne Long, Member of Parliament for Saint John-Rothesay

“With so much to offer, it’s no surprise that Atlantic Canada’s cruise ship traffic has been steadily increasing in recent years. The ACCA partnership will further develop the cruise sector in our region, complementing initiatives underway by the respective four provinces, and in turn, bringing more passengers from cruise ship to shoreline.  We look forward to the season ahead and to sharing our beautiful corner of the world with this year’s cruise ship passengers.”

- The Honourable John Ames, New Brunswick Minister of Tourism, Heritage and Culture

"We are pleased to receive this support for our marketing efforts. In addition to boosting our summer and shoulder season numbers, the Association has been trying to increase niche and expedition cruises in the region. We’re already seeing an increase in the number of smaller cruise lines visiting rural niche ports in Atlantic Canada. Specifically, in 2018 several of the smaller ports will be hosting cruise lines such as Pearl Seas Cruises, Hurtigruten, One Ocean, Silverseas, and Noble Caledonia."

- Catherine McGrail, Chair of Atlantic Canada Cruise Association

Quick facts

  • The Atlantic Canada Cruise Association (ACCA) is a member-based partnership between ports, tourism and cruise ship interests in each of the four Atlantic Provinces, the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, and Parks Canada. The mission of the Association is to lead growth to enhance Atlantic Canada as a cruise destination through strategic marketing.

  • The Atlantic Canada cruise sector is comprised of five partner ports (Charlottetown, PEI; Corner Brook, NL; Saint John, NB; and Halifax and Sydney, NS), and eight niche ports (Charlotte County and the Acadian Peninsula, NB; Summerside and Georgetown, PEI; Pictou, Yarmouth and Shelburne, NS; and Saint-Pierre et Miquelon). 

  • Cruise passenger visits to the Atlantic region increased by approximately 23.6% in 2017 to 711,903 (up from 575,963 in 2016) – a new record for the region, exceeding the previous high of 654,977 from 2013.

  • Direct economic impact to the region increased approximately 27% to over $129 million (up from $101 million in 2016) as total passengers and crew exceeded one million for the first time ever, with 1,037,857.

Contacts

Chris Brooks
Director of Communications
ACOA PEI & Tourism
902-566-7569

Barbara Day
Communications
New Brunswick Department of Tourism, Heritage and Culture
506-444-5185

Catherine McGrail
Chair
Atlantic Canada Cruise Association (ACCA)
902 426-4069

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