“These workers have dedicated a lot of time and effort into reaching out to tourism operators to advocate for the centres to remain open, and in the end it looks like that hard work has paid off.”
REVISED: The Nova Scotia government appears to have backed off any plans to close the visitor information centre at the ferry terminal in Yarmouth, and five other regional centres.
Business Minister Mark Furey confirmed via anews release Thursday, Feb. 25, that Nova Scotia's six provincial visitor information centres will remain open. They will continue to be operated and administered by the province.
Over the past year, according to the release, Tourism Nova Scotia consulted with industry and communities about its programs and services, including other ways to operate provincial visitor information centres.
"These centres are important provincial assets that add value to the tourism experience in Nova Scotia and to the communities where they operate," said Business Minister Mark Furey. "As technology advances tourism is changing rapidly, and we need to keep up with the pace of change. That's why we took the time to make an informed decision about the role the centres will play in growing this industry."
NSGEU President Joan Jessome gave credit Thursday in a news release to the Nova Scotia government for its decision to keep the six remaining Visitor Information Centres open and run by the same experienced staff, which her union represents.
“I am very pleased with this outcome. Over the last year, our members who work in these Visitor Information Centres have been very concerned about the future of tourism, and the role these centres play within the industry,” says Jessome.
“These workers have dedicated a lot of time and effort into reaching out to tourism operators to advocate for the centres to remain open, and in the end it looks like that hard work has paid off.”
Tourism operators and NSGEU members have been concerned for the future of the remaining centres since the province closed the Digby and Pictou centres last year and these concerns were only heightened by the complete lack of information being provided to the workers, communities and organizations, the release stated.
“I am relieved the government has decided to not turn its back on this $2 billion industry and that they are not throwing away the many of years of tourism experience, passion and dedication our members use to promote Nova Scotia to visitors,” says Jessome.
“We also appreciate the advocacy of the Opposition parties, as they helped raise public awareness around this important issue.”
Argyle-Barrington MLA Chris d'Entremont has been extremely critical of the government on ths issue. In a late afternoon news release, d'Entremeont said the Liberal governmentw a flying by the seat of their pants on the tourism file. “The Liberals put local communities and tourism operators through months of unnecessary confusion and turmoil,” said d’Entremont. “Now it turns out it was all for nothing. This is more evidence the Liberals have no idea what they’re doing. Nova Scotians are tired of watching this government lurch from crisis to crisis with no plan.”
While activity at the centres has decreased over the last decade as tourists get more information online, they continue to play a role in local tourism, said the government news release. The private sector-led Tourism Nova Scotia has a goal to attract more first time visitors to Nova Scotia and double tourism revenues to $4-billion by 2024.
Tourism Nova Scotia acknowledges the importance of frontline visitor information services to help meet that goal and will also continue to offer travel planning assistance 24 hours a day on novascotia.com and 365 days a year through the Tourism Contact Centre. In addition to the six provincial visitor information centres, there are more than 50 locally-run centres across the province.
