New Project Brings Parrsboro Tourism Community Together to Expand Industry
March 5, 2015 – Parrsboro, NS – Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
The greater Parrsboro area is home to the world's highest tides and some of its oldest dinosaur bones. The Town of Parrsboro is leading a new project to leverage the region's many assets and develop a coordinated plan to expand the area’s tourism industry. The Town is implementing Tourism Atlantic's STEP: Strategic Tourism Expansion Program. Parliamentary Secretary Scott Armstrong announced the Government of Canada’s support for the project today.
STEP was developed in 2012, in consultation with the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) and tourism authorities from all four Atlantic Provinces. The Program engages a tourism expert to guide community and business leaders through six strategic steps designed to help communities become sought-after tourism destinations. The steps, which include assessments, workshops and reports, are derived from more than a decade of research, planning and practice.
Parrsboro has already completed step one, an analysis of the region’s economic, environmental and social attributes. The remaining steps will build on this foundation to effectively promote existing tourism products and identify new opportunities. The process will focus on strategic planning, capacity building and experiential product development to create a sustainable tourism plan for the greater Parrsboro area.
The Government of Canada is investing $30,000 in Parrsboro’s STEP project, through ACOA’s Innovative Communities Fund (ICF). The Government of Nova Scotia is contributing $10,000 through Nova Scotia Tourism Agency’s Competitive Edge program. The Town of Parrsboro is contributing $10,000.
Quick Facts:
Quotes:
“Distinctive attractions rooted in the natural world are a hallmark of the Parrsboro area. Our Government is pleased to support local businesses and community organizations as they strengthen the local tourism experience through planning and experiential product development, in order to attract new visitors to the region to discover everything it has to offer.”
- Scott Armstrong, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Employment and Social Development and Minister of Labour and Member of Parliament for Cumberland-Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley, on behalf of the Honourable Rob Moore, Minister of State (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency)
“To attract more visitors to Nova Scotia we’re investing in higher quality products and experiences in iconic destinations. Enhancing the market-readiness of Parrsboro will motivate travel to the Bay of Fundy, one of North America’s natural wonders. This project will help them do that.”
- Michel Samson, Nova Scotia Minister of Economic and Rural Development and Tourism
“The Strategic Tourism Expansion Program will create a sustainable tourism plan for Parrsboro and Area. The funding will enhance and grow our unique tourism products and highlight the natural resources in an area of the province often described by visitors as ‘Nova Scotia’s best kept secret.’ We are excited about the program’s potential to identify and cultivate new opportunities for tourism.”
- Lois Smith, Mayor, Town of Parrsboro
Associated Links:
Contacts:
Kelsie Corey
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of State
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
613-941-7241
Alex Smith
Director, Communications and Outreach
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
902-426-9417 / 902-448-2748 (cell)
E-mail: Alex.Smith@acoa-apeca.gc.ca
Sarah Levy MacLeod
Media Relations Advisor
Economic and Rural Development and Tourism
902-424-7937
E-mail : Sarah.Levy@novascotia.ca
Raymond Hickey
Chief Administrative Officer
Town of Parrsboro
902-254-2036 / 902-254-4347 (cell)
E-mail: rhickey@town.parrsboro.ns.ca
