13 January 2012
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
Regional tourism marketing organizations in Newfoundland and Labrador received support today through an announcement made by Peter Penashue, Regional Minister for Newfoundland and Labrador, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and President of the Queens Privy Council, on behalf of Bernard Valcourt, Minister of State for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOAM) and La Francophonie. The Government of Canada investment of more than $480,000 will assist them in marketing the province as a premier tourist destination to a global audience.
“The Government of Canada recognizes the link between tourism and economic development in urban and rural areas of Canada,” said Minister Penashue. “Our support for these regional tourism marketing organizations is contributing to the development of a world class tourism industry in Newfoundland and Labrador – an industry that is delivering a unique and exciting range of product offerings and in the process generating growth that is benefiting tourist operations across the province and the hundreds of communities in which these businesses are rooted.”
The investments will allow Destination St. John’s Inc. ($109,050), the Central Destination Marketing Organization Inc. ($184,863) and the Western NL DMO Inc. ($190,000) to implement their tourism development plans that include marketing activities such as participation in trade shows, the hosting of familiarization tours and support for tourism capacity building initiatives.
Destination St. John’s Inc. will develop marketing and promotional tools to attract larger scale conventions to the capital city area. Specifically, it will develop a social media strategy, expand its participation in trade shows, and develop a web site and other promotional tools to help promote the expansion of Mile One Convention Centre which is scheduled for completion by 2016.
The Central Destination Marketing Organization Inc., also known as Adventure Central, will implement a three-year tourism plan. The initiative includes the creation of marketing synergies and opportunities within its membership. Under the plan Adventure Central will serve as a centralized host to provide information to tourists, meeting planners, tour operators, travel agencies, travel media, transportation companies, the Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation and Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador. It also includes provisions to support all members in the areas of marketing, product development and market readiness.
Western DMO will also implement a three-year tourism plan centered on five core objectives. The DMO will be the primary marketing agency for the promotion of tourism in Western Newfoundland; it will advocate for the industry in building public awareness of economic development generated by the sector; it will coordinate the available tourism services and resources from public and private sectors in order to maximize their impact; it will serve as a "host" in providing information to tourists, meeting planners, tour operators, travel agencies, travel media and transportation companies; and it will act as a support agency to all members of the Western DMO.
The Government of Canada’s support for these projects is provided through ACOA’s Business Development Program and it builds on the Agency’s August 2011 commitment of $225,000 in assistance for Destination Labrador.
FOR BROADCAST USE:
Destination marketing organizations throughout Newfoundland and Labrador will implement their tourism development plans with the support of the Government of Canada through an investment of more than $480,000. Regional Minister Peter Penashue made the announcement today.
The federal funding will be used to support the tourism marketing activities and industry capacity building of Destination St. John’s Inc., the Central Destination Marketing Organization Inc.and the Western NL Destination Marketing Operation.
The federal funding was made available through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency’s Business Development Program.
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INFORMATION:
Doug Burgess
Director Public Affairs
ACOA NL
709-772-2935
Shannon Pinsent
Executive Director
Central Destination Marketing Organization Inc.
709-489-9887
spinsent@centraldmo.com
Tracey Drover
Executive Director
Western NL DMO Inc.
709-639-9624
tracey@gowesternnewfoundland.com
Cathy Duke
CEO
Destination St. John’s, Inc.
709-739-8898
cduke@destinationstjohns.com
Cory Hann
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and
President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada
613-943-1838
