New Brunswick announces five-year tourism strategy to boost industry
New Brunswick has unveiled an ambitious five-year tourism strategy which aims to make the province the top vacation destination for visitors in Atlantic Canada, as the hard-hit sector begins pandemic recovery.
The new vision is called The Invitation, which the province’s minister of Tourism, Heritage & Culture says is about letting people know they’re invited to New Brunswick. It calls on New Brunswickers to share their favourite destinations in the province.
"With this five-year strategic vision we want to make people see, hear and feel like New Brunswick is their place in the world. The Invitation showcases our province as the best place to visit, live, and build businesses," says Minister Tammy Scott-Wallace.
"We have missed our visitors and the people who once called New Brunswick home. We cannot wait to see them again."
The strategy includes goals to boost overnight visits by 33 per cent compared to 2021, or, from 1.09 million to 1.45 million, and boost online travellers' perceptions of the province by 21 per cent.
This year, the focus will be attracting visitors from Atlantic Canada, Ontario, Quebec, Eastern U.S., and ex-pats living in other provinces.
Next year, the focus will broaden to inviting the world in, focusing on the United Kingdom, France and Germany.
As well, the province says the tourism strategy includes marketing campaigns which are tailored to different audiences and seasons.
The new strategy comes about three weeks before the first cruise ship of the season – and since the start of the pandemic – sails into Saint John.
Danielle Timmins of Aquila Tours says all hands are on deck to prepare for the arrival.
"We’re seeing that the ships are getting really good fill rates, people are excited to be on board, everything is really safe on board, they’ve taken a lot of extra precautions,” says Timmins, “so people are really excited to cruise and be able to come to Canada."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
From AI running wild to collapsing ecosystems, government report outlines future disruptions
From artificial intelligence running wild to collapsing ecosystems, a new Canadian government report outlines 35 disruptions that could rattle the country in the near future.
B.C. serial killer Robert Pickton hospitalized after prison attack
British Columbia serial killer Robert Pickton was attacked and sustained life-threatening injuries in a Quebec prison Sunday in what officials described as a 'major assault.'
opinion Tom Mulcair: With Trudeau spiralling, Mark Carney waits in the wings
In his latest column for CTVNews.ca, former NDP leader Tom Mulcair argues that if there's an unofficial frontrunner in the eventual race to replace Justin Trudeau as Liberal leader, it has to be former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney.
Toronto Blue Jays fan struck by 110 m.p.h foul ball offered tickets, signed baseball by team
The Toronto Blue Jays have offered tickets and a signed baseball to a fan who says she was struck in the face by a 110 m.p.h (177 km/h) foul ball at Friday’s game.
Matthew Perry's death is being investigated over ketamine level found in actor's blood, reports say
An investigation has been opened into the death of Matthew Perry and how the “Friends” actor received the anesthetic ketamine, which was ruled a contributing factor in his death.
OPP continues to investigate boat collision north of Kingston, Ont. that left 3 people dead
Ontario Provincial Police continue to investigate a long weekend fatal boat collision on Bobs Lake, north of Kingston, Ont.
Police in Ontario say suspects charged in armed home invasion near Toronto part of 'larger criminal network'
Police in Ontario say a group of suspects charged in an armed home invasion north of Toronto last year were driving a vehicle stolen in a carjacking in Calgary just one month earlier.
Stolen septic truck swerves through traffic, spike belt needed to stop it: Manitoba RCMP
A 29-year-old woman has been charged after police say she stole a septic truck from a Manitoba community and drove erratically on the highway.
Orphan orca's extended family spotted off northeast side of Vancouver Island
Members of a killer whale pod related to an orphan orca calf that escaped a remote British Columbia tidal lagoon last month have been spotted off the northeast coast of Vancouver Island.