ACTP Fall Mission 2007

October 27th - October 27th

Participants in this mission included high-level senior officials within government and private sector from Atlantic Canada. The group consisted of eleven representatives including Deputy Ministers of Tourism from two of the four Atlantic Provinces, as well as industry leaders from across the region.

The Atlantic Canada Tourism Partnership Best Practices Mission took place October 08 – 14, 2007 and exposed the senior management group of participants to successful tourism partnerships, operators/entrepreneurs and outstanding products on the island of Ireland.

The Mission allowed the group to meet with industry leaders who are instrumental in working with their tourism industry and partners to grow tourism in Ireland. Significant to their success is the government’s recognition and support of tourism as a viable economic generator for Ireland and the injection of European Union funding to the industry and it partners. De-regulation of air access has also contributed significantly to their increase in tourists and growth in tourism.

•What I saw reinforced much of what we are doing in Nova Scotia. It also enforced the importance of significant government investment. Also much of the Irish tourism “miracle” was due to the massive EU intervention facilitating a lot of “catch-up” with the rest of Europe.

•Realized we needed to improve our website and change the variety of packages offered.

•We now have a better idea of what makes a good product and were provided with good examples of how to get government to believe and invest in tourism.

•As we look at the marketing opportunities for Atlantic Canada as a unified region, the examples seen and lessons learned in Ireland will without a doubt be referenced often during discussions. The most important message I plan to enthusiastically convey to our own tourism organization is to share what can be accomplished when the concept of “Tourism First” is embraced by all levels and departments of government and business: not only those traditionally and directly connected to tourism.

•This mission has given us definite new marketing ideas to explore, as well as signal the need to reinforce to government the importance of tourism to the province and the need for increased investment.

•Due to the mission, we are now looking at structural changes to the way we develop and deliver tourism as a government agency.

•The importance of focusing on the positive impact that tourism has had on other sectors.