The Atlantic cruise industry got a boost Monday thanks to $350,000 in funding from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.
Minister of State for ACOA Bernard Valcourt made the announcement at the Atlantic Culinary Institute where he said the money will help a growing industry that attracts people to ports throughout the region.
“Well, they bring thousands and thousands of visitors who come ashore and they do spend money in our communities and this creates jobs,” he said.
The total investment for the Atlantic Canada Cruise Association’s (ACCA) three-year marketing strategy will be $1.14 million with funds from several sources, including provincial governments.
Provincial Tourism Minister Robert Henderson said P.E.I. is contributing $25,000 as its portion and the other Atlantic provinces will provide funding based on the size of their respective cruise ship industries.
“This is an opportunity. There’s major economic spinoffs that come to the province,” he said.
ACCA chair Betty MacMillan said most of the cruise ship traffic comes to Atlantic Canada in the fall, but the funding will be used to try and help change that.
“Our biggest objective is to sell Atlantic Canada as a three season, family friendly destination,” she said.
No need to promote the shows to all world-wide cruise companies, just the ones that are coming here. Nothing complicated, no glossy brochures. Just offer a show(s) as part of the ship's shore excursion package.