
Barbe Genge
According to Barbe Genge, chairwoman of The Viking Trail Tourism Association the Northern Peninsula has experienced a drop in tourist traffic in recent years. The Viking Trail Tourism Association is looking at new marketing to help with what they feel is a declining tourism industry.
According to an interview given to the Western Star Barbe Genge stated, “While it seems people are entering the Northern Peninsula, they have to find ways to get them to stay and take advantage of the unique product respective communities have to offer. She says there is a strong need to expand on the product available, create additional attractions, but also market the region more.”
This as the Tourism Minister says the Government is doing enough to promote travel to the Northern Peninsula. Terry French, discounts the idea in an interview with CBC news he claimed the government research shows that tourist are spending more money on the Northern Peninsula this year than last. “I can tell you Gros Morne is up six per cent from last year.” said French. ” I can tell you L’Anse aud Meadows is up over 20 per cent from last year. I can tell you our roomed accommodations is up over six per cent from last year. This is all on the Northern Peninsula. This is not in Corner Brook.” He also confirmed the province has increased the number of trade and marketing shows for western newfoundland, including the Northern Peninsual, as well as trying to market a longer tourist season.
Danny Keats the operator of Northern Tours and Charter has confirmed that his business has seen a large decline especially in the tourist who come from outside the province and he has noticed a decline in the industry as a whole.
The recent news that Hotel North has decided to renovate and re-open the Vinland Hotel in St. Anthony will help in the next tourist season but there was a shortage of accommodations in St. Anthony in particular this year. The good news is other accommodation providers should have benefited with an increase in the business as a result but the overall availability of accommodations would have a negative impact on the number of tourist who came to the town.
It is quite interesting that two of the organizations who are most knowledgeable on the industry would have such divergent opinions on the state of the industry for this year. Maybe once more time passes they can decide how the numbers actually worked out. For now you have to assume the two are talking to come up with a consensus on the state of the industry in the 2010 season.
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