- People will need places to stay – please offer an Evacuation Rate and socialize.
- Check in on your neighbours – this is traumatizing news after the last few years and we need to be extra kind to one other.
- Support local when you can – many businesses will be shut down for days, so when they open, lets support them.
- Check with Red Cross for donation drop offs.
If you are offering a special rate for Evacuees, please share that information and we will include in our social posts wherever relevant.
We are here for you. Stay Safe,
The TIANS Team
For Additional Information:
Current situation from the City of Halifax
Fire | Firefighting | Fire Safety & Prevention | Halifax
Emergency Management | Fire | EMO | Halifax Regional Fire | Halifax
Emergency alerts and information – Government of Nova Scotia, Canada
Emergency Management Office – Government of Nova Scotia
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Halifax, N.S. (April 21, 2023) – The Tourism Industry Association of Nova Scotia (TIANS) and partners from across Canada are celebrating Tourism Week from April 24 – 30; calling on Nova Scotians to recognize the power of the industry and to support local businesses.
Generating $2.6 Billion annually, tourism is an economic powerhouse for the province, providing over $450 million in tax revenue for governments, supporting social and public services such as schools, hospitals, roads, and other infrastructure.
At its peak, Tourism employed 50,000 Nova Scotians! It provides 1 in 3 residents with that important first work experience. The industry has demonstrated its resilience over the past three years, as the hardest hit sector, but businesses are now seeing strong demand as they continue to rebuild.
Nova Scotia offers an abundance of unique experiences, destinations and business opportunities during all four seasons. “We are incredibly fortunate to live in Nova Scotia and I urge everyone to take stock of the local businesses in your community and the natural, historic and cultural assets that define Nova Scotia,” says TIANS Chair, Wes Surrett. This Tourism Week, let’s all celebrate how Nova Scotia is Powered by Tourism.”
“Tourism touches every Nova Scotian community and impacts the social, cultural and environmental health of the province,” says Darlene Grant Fiander, TIANS President. “Tourism Week holds particular relevance this year as TIANS and Tourism Nova Scotia are embarking on the development of a holistic tourism strategy to provide a framework for new economic growth in the years to come.”
TIANS is highlighting the importance of the tourism industry to Nova Scotia’s economic, social and environmental well-being on their core social media channels – Facebook and Twitter. Follow the conversation with #TourismWeekCanada2023 #GreenMeansGo! and #NSTourismStrong.
TIANS is committed to representing the best interests of the industry; enhancing and supporting the development of a competitive business environment; advocating on issues critical to the industry’s success; and most importantly, leading Nova Scotia’s most promising economic sector.
Tourism Week is a grassroots initiative focused on sharing information around the important role the sector plays in the Canadian economy & the need for strong public policy supporting the sector.
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For more information, please contact:
Lisa Dahr, Director
Industry Relations & Professional Development
Tourism Industry Association of Nova Scotia
902.423.4480 lisa@tourism.ca tians.org
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1 in 3 Start Out Working in a Tourism Related Job
The Tourism Sector in Nova Scotia is Worth $2.6 Billion
Tourism Provides 50,000 Jobs & Generates
$450 Million in Tax Revenue
VIEW TIANS April 21, 2023 Tourism Week Release
Tourism Week April 24 – 30, 2023 Canada – Powered by Tourism!
The theme was chosen to recognize the fundamental economic and sociocultural importance of the sector in communities from coast to coast to coast – CANADA: Powered by Tourism! #TourismWeekCanada2023
What’s happening in your area for Tourism Week?
For more than 10 years, Tourism Week has encouraged all tourism partners to come together to celebrate tourism as vital to the Canadian economy and to the social and cultural fabric of communities across the nation. Doing something special in your community for Tourism Week? We’d love to hear from you. Share it on your socials with the hashtag #TourismWeekCanada2023 and email us at TIANS@tourism.ca
Light it Up!
Whether you are a destination, landmark, attraction, venue, hotel, or other tourism business, TIANS is challenging operators in Nova Scotia to light up in green (colour hex code #8BC53F) as part of the #GreenMeansGo social media campaign during Tourism Week to raise awareness of the industry’s economic, social, and cultural importance. Remember to snap a few pics and share them on social media using the official Tourism Week hashtags of #TourismWeekCanada2023 and #GreenMeansGo
— Atlantic Canadian Ports to Welcome 950,000 Cruise Guests Aboard Over 600 Ships in 2023 Season —
For Immediate Release
April 20, 2023
Halifax, Nova Scotia – Atlantic Canada’s cruise industry is preparing for a banner year in 2023 with the region expected to welcome nearly 1-million cruise guest visits aboard over 600 vessel calls across the region. From late April until early November, ports across the region will be bustling with travelers from around the world. This news is a welcome relief for tourism operators, local businesses, and job growth, all of which benefit from the increased economic activity generated by the cruise industry.
“We’re thrilled to have such a promising cruise season ahead of us,” says Sarah Rumley, Executive Director of the Atlantic Canada Cruise Association (ACCA). “The number of ships and passengers expected this year is unprecedented, and it demonstrates the strength and resilience of the cruise industry in Atlantic Canada.”
The 2023 cruise season will begin on April 21, with the niche port of Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, welcoming Viking Cruises’ Viking Octantis.
Several cruise ships will be making their debut in the region this season, including Explora Journeys, Explora 1, a new privately owned luxury lifestyle brand of the MSC Group, headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. Another ten ships are expected to call Atlantic Canada for the first time, highlighting the increasing popularity of the region as a cruise destination.
Before the pandemic, cruise ships contributed $347 million to Atlantic Canada’s economy and were responsible for over 2,000 jobs. When cruise operations resumed last year after a two-year hiatus, ports welcomed 474 ships and 622,811 passengers. With even more promising projections for 2023, a banner year is proof positive that post-pandemic recovery in the sector is well underway.
“ACOA is pleased to support the cruise industry as it showcases Atlantic Canada to the world during this anticipated record-breaking year,” says the Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Official Languages and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA). “The cruise industry plays a key role in tourism, drawing people to these special places, creating jobs and growing the economy for years ahead.”
With its stunning coastline, picturesque towns, and friendly locals, Atlantic Canada offers unique and memorable experiences for visitors, each port has something special to offer, from New Brunswick’s magnificent Bay of Fundy, Newfoundland and Labrador’s breathtaking scenery, Prince Edward Island’s vibrant culinary scene or Nova Scotia’s rich culture and historic sites. The cruise industry’s continued growth in the region provides local businesses with ample opportunities to grow and thrive, making 2023 an exciting year for the entire Atlantic Canada community.
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For more information:
Sarah Rumley
Executive Director, Atlantic Canada Cruise Association
director@cruiseatlanticcanada.com (902) 229-4304
About Atlantic Canada Cruise Association (ACCA)
Operating as Cruise Atlantic Canada, ACCA is a regional partnership between ports, tourism, and cruise ship interests as well as the four provincial governments and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. We work to promote the sustainable growth of Atlantic Canada as a cruise destination through strategic leadership, collaboration, partnerships, and innovative marketing. Find out more at https://www.cruiseatlanticcanada.com/.
You are invited to take part in the Tourism Town Hall on Monday, April 17th at The Prince George Hotel in Halifax.
There will be Provincial Best Practice Panel Sessions (see below), National Updates from Jennifer Taylor, VP Business Development & Member Relations at Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC), Emilie Comeau-Sinclair, Ex. Director, Strategic Initiatives at Destination Canada (Canada Keep Exploring), Tara Saunders, Director of Business Development at Indigenous Tourism Canada Association, and a recorded message from Philip Mondor, Tourism HR Canada President and CEO.
This interactive Town Hall includes networking breaks, an Industry Lunch and a Reception to follow.
Looking to secure accommodation for the event? Visit The Prince George online.
Panel 1- Innovation in Travel Media and Agri-Tourism Partnerships 9:30-10:30 AM
As the Nova Scotia Tourism Industry continues to rebuild post-COVID, the need for enhanced focus around the quality and consistency of our product has never been greater. Investing in innovative experiences, building partnerships, finding new ways to share our story and staying focused on quality are all crucial elements to our ability to successfully compete for market share. Join us for this panel discussion to hear practical insights from speakers who will share their insight and experiences of rebuilding tourism with purpose and vision.
Panelists: Neil MacKenzie, CEO, YASTA; Linda Best, Co-Founder/Director, FarmWorks; Susan Tilley-Russell, Manager, Atlantic Best Practices Mission. Moderated by Wes Surrett, TIANS Chair
Panel 2 – Developing Culinary Career Pathways for Youth 10:45-11:45 AM
Labour shortages, particularly those in food and beverage services have resulted in unprecedented demand for skilled culinary talent across the tourism industry. Since 2016, the Serve it Up High School culinary exploration program has fostered the next generation of culinary talent by supporting high school students with opportunities to explore careers in the culinary trade. Through a unique program model, combining industry employers together with the education and apprenticeship system, Serve it Up has become an attractive career exploration program for youth and a recognized entry point into the Provincial Cook and Baker Apprenticeship system. Panelists will share their perspective around the value and relevance of the program and how it can play a role in both the recovery and sustainability of the industry in Nova Scotia.
Panelists: Chef Mathias Probst, Red Seal Cook, The Carleton; Marcy Graves, GM, Sou’Wester Gift & Restaurant Company Ltd.; and Dale Crawford, Director, Partnership & Innovation, Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency; Moderated by Lisa Dahr, TIANS Director, Industry Engagement
]]>This program is an important start to reframing work in the sector , demonstrating the vibrancy in a wholistic way and of course the value of Canada’s tourism economy to the labour market. This will be a good tool for all stakeholders to use.
There will be a national promotional effort put in place around this with messaging out to industry, over coming days.
Check it out Discover Tourism and Explorez le Tourisme
View the 2023 Federal Budget Tourism Highlights from the Tourism Industry Association of Canada.
Federal Budget 2023 confirmed the government will present a new Federal Tourism Growth Strategy to chart a course for growth, investment, and stability in Canada’s tourism sector (but no clear indication of when).
Directly related to supporting tourism were two key investment announcements:
• $108 million over 3 years, starting in 2023-24, to the Regional Development Agencies to support communities, small businesses, and non-profit organizations in developing local projects and events.
• $50 million over 3 years, starting in 2023-24, to Destination Canada to attract major international conventions, conferences, and events to Canada.
Click on below image for full Tourism related highlights:
The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, announced that Canada will launch a new economic pathway under the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP) to help employers hire skilled refugees and other displaced individuals.
The EMPP pairs skilled refugees and other qualified displaced individuals with Canadian employers who need to overcome labour shortages in key occupations; tourism and hospitality workers were specifically noted as being in-demand.
The full news release can be read here.
The Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, has extended temporary measures introduced during the pandemic and through the Temporary Foreign Workers Program (TFWP) Workforce Solutions Road Map.
The continued measures, intended to provide greater stability for employers and workers, include:
• permitting employers in seven sectors with demonstrated labour shortages (including accommodation and food services) to hire up to 30 percent of their workforce through the TFWP for low-wage positions;
• keeping the Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIA) validity period at up to 18 months; and,
• maintaining the maximum duration of employment for low-wage positions at up to two years.
The full news release can be read here.
Tourism HR Canada President and CEO Philip Mondor noted, “These are welcome announcements for tourism employers across the country, who are continuing to face challenges in finding the talent they need to fully recover and be able to showcase Canada as a world-class travel destination during the upcoming summer season. These programs also help with building a diverse and inclusive tourism workforce, one which thrives on having internationally trained workers who can offer a range of cultural experiences and speak multiple languages.”
Tourism HR Canada has just launched Hiring International Talent for Summer Jobs, a series of infographics to help employers navigate the suite of immigration programs available. The downloadable resources can be found at TourismHR.ca/InternationalTalent.
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]]>Check out the full Sponsorship Guide and see how you can take part.
ACS 2023 Sponsorship Opportunities
Sellers: Registration is by invitation to tourism businesses or organizations in Atlantic Canada that meet the established seller criteria. To see if your organization meets the seller criteria, please visit the ASC website.
All Sellers will be qualified based on information provided on their registration and profile form, while adhering to the Buyer/Seller ratio of two sellers for every one buyer registered.
Buyers: Registration is by invitation to businesses or entities that sell group, F.I.T. or specialty travel and have an interest in or currently sell Atlantic Canada as a destination. To see if your organization meets the buyer criteria, please visit the ASC website.
If you are a buyer or seller and you haven’t received an email invitation, please send a request to registration@atlanticcanadashowcase.com
For more information about ACS please visit https://www.atlanticcanadashowcase.com
This project has been made possible through funding provided by the Atlantic Canada Agreement on Tourism (ACAT). ACAT is a nine-member pan-Atlantic initiative comprised of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, the four Atlantic Canada Tourism Industry Associations, and the four Provincial Departments responsible for tourism.