Province preparing for tourism season

Cape Breton Post
Monday, April 9, 2007
Page: A8
Section: Our Community
Byline: Matthew Daye

Spring is starting to make itself known which is a sign this year's tourist season will soon be upon the many businesses and attractions around the island.

Debbie MacKinnon from Knotty Pine Cottages located on Smokey's Mountain, which was hit hard this passing winter by the closing of the Cape Smokey ski hill, is worried for this summer as well.

"We've been a little slow getting our reservations for the summer so far," she said. "I don't know if it has to do with the gas prices or whatever it is. I really don't know."

Adele Poirier from Nova Scotia Tourism said the province has been holding its own the last few years, but the way tourism works is changing.

More and more people are making reservations at the last minute and using the Internet to plan their trips and because of this the province is changing its procedures.

"We have a new tourism plan that takes us in some new directions. It's called new realities, new directions," she said.

It involves three strategies.

The first is called Gateway, which involves focusing on areas that have direct flights to Nova Scotia. It's to appeal to travellers who want to spend their time at the destination, not just getting to it.

"People don't pack up the station wagon with the family dog and drive for two weeks anymore," she said.

The second is called Core Experiences, which is to build up the locations that exist.

The third strategy, called Courtship, is to take advantage of the Internet. Part of this strategy uses Google Earth with special plaid place markers.

This way prospective tourists can see possible destinations, with the bird's-eye view the program offers, but also with pictures and possibly video in the near future.

"As far as we know and as far as Google knows, we're the first to use Google Earth in this way," she said.

That strategy will also continue to update and explore new uses for the website, including letting people buy their whole vacation online.

Despite these new initiatives there may still be some problems with the upcoming season.

Gas prices, competition with other destinations, and the new passport regulations involving the United States, are the main concerns this year.

Donny MacLellan, a travel agent with Maritime Travel, says the determining factor for this tourism season is simple.

"If the weather stays nice, the people stay longer," MacLellan said. "If the weather gets bad they pack up and go."