Room nights sold between January and April were up three per cent, compared to the same time in 2009. Although results varied across the province, all regions saw increases between January and April, with the exception of the South shore and Cape Breton regions, which stayed the same as 2009.
“We are encouraged to see we’sre ahead of where we were last year although it is very early in the season to speculate on what the year will bring,” said Percy Paris, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Heritage. “But we will continue to make the right decisions to support the tourism industry as it creates good jobs and grows the economy.”
As of the end of April, domestic travel showed growth of six per cent, even though visitors from Western Canada decreased by 15 per cent. Visits from Ontario improved by 12 per cent, while visits from Atlantic Canada increased by seven per cent.
During April, 138,000 people visited Nova Scotia, representing an increase of 11 per cent, compared with April 2009. The number of visitors travelling by car increased by nine per cent, while air travel increased by 16 per cent. Room nights sold jumped by two per cent, compared with April 2009.
Nova Scotia’s system for reporting monthly tourism statistics includes counting non-resident overnight visitors at all entry points to the province and gathering the number of room nights sold from licensed accommodations operators.
For detailed stats from the Department of Tourism, Culture and Heritage, click here.
