Events commemorating the sinking of the Titanic have captured the attention of the world, and as a result, a worldwide audience is being introduced to Atlantic Canada.
The tragedy of the Titanic has drawn visitors to the Maritimes for decades and with the 100th anniversary of the fateful voyage approaching, interest in anything Titanic-related has grown exponentially.
This has not escaped the notice of people in the tourism business. They say the real impact of the anniversary will be felt throughout the region in the months and years to come.
"There is a connection with Halifax and Newfoundland and Labrador and actually there are a couple of chartered cruise ships that are doing Titanic-type cruises right now," says Betty MacMillan of the Saint John Port Authority.
Cruise lines are anticipating a sharp increase in demand for Titanic-related tours in Halifax this summer and road traffic is expected to see a spike as well as tourists travel throughout the region.
"We've noticed the Titanic is certainly increasing a lot more in awareness and a lot more people are searching for that and of course, the news stories that are being generated all throughout North America are certainly raising awareness of that story as well," says Ross Jefferson of Saint John Destination Marketing.
One campground owner says this week's Titanic anniversary will plant a seed with travellers.
"Usually with something like that, it is between two and four weeks that you start getting some phone calls from people expressing interest in coming to this area," says Rockwood Park Campground manager Geoff Spear.
The interest in all things Titanic is undeniable and it is expected to last well beyond this week as more visitors explore the story, the tragedy and the Maritime region.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Mike Cameron
