Party leaders promise to revitalize COVID-battered N.L. tourism sector

Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey at a press conference in the lobby of the Confederation Building in St. John’s on Friday, January 15, 2021 where he announced a February 13, 2021 provincial election. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Daly

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ST. JOHN'S, N.L. -- Newfoundland and Labrador's pandemic-battered tourism sector is getting some attention during the election campaign.

Liberal Leader Andrew Furey on Wednesday visited the renowned beauty of St. Anthony, on the Great Northern Peninsula, to promise a program designed to attract former residents of the province back home.

He said if elected Feb. 13, his government would launch the "Come Home Year 2022" program, which he said would promote tourism and draw workers back to the province to help grow the economy.

Furey said the pandemic has shown the viability of remote work, adding that his government wants to showcase the beauty of the province to mobile people who can make money using their laptops.

Progressive Conservative Leader Ches Crosbie said Wednesday that if he's elected, he would develop a new tourism strategy for the province that would support job creation, particularly in rural areas.

He said part of his plan is to work with airlines to increase air access to the province, after the COVID-19 pandemic led to route cuts by major air carriers, such as Air Canada.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 28, 2021.