Newfoundland and Labrador Product Development Strategy

- 108-Infrastructureo Ferry service – schedule, capacity, extend season/capacity for Argentia serviceo Address motorcoach rental concernsThird Level of Potential (0 – 9 points)Attractions/Activities/Niche Productso St. Pierre-Miquelon partnership projectso Snowmobile packageso ATV trailso Skiing at Marble Mountaino Other winter activitieso Lighthouseso Local sightseeing tours/cruiseso Special interest products (other than at Selected Ecological Reserves) – geology,flora and fauna,Recommendations for Pursuing Shoulder and Winter Season PotentialBecause these products also have potential to grow tourism in the province more generally,proposals for specific projects and other initiatives dealing with them are included with theproposed strategies for demand influencers in the next section of the report.1. We need to develop workshops on the opportunities, and the how to’s, of developingshoulder and winter season business. Particular attention should be given to addressingtechniques of programming, building suggested itineraries, packaging and value-addedfeatures.2. Suggestions for shoulder and winter season tourism initiatives should be put on the HNLwebsite.3. It is also critical that we keep our attractions open in the shoulder seasons, as well asrestaurants and visitor information services.4. We recommend a couple of pilot projects which would involve bringing all the players inan area together to agree on an action plan for shoulder season operations. The bestdestination areas for this would be ones having a reasonable base of accommodations andsome attractions and activities that are not unduly weather dependent. Some suggestionsfor pilot project locations include Corner Brook/Humber Valley, Gros Morne area, St.John’s (winter) and the Irish Loop, Bonavista Peninsula, Gander and Road to the Islesarea. It would involve the following kinds of initiatives:o Getting agreement to remain open for business for a target period in the springand/or fall, particularly attractions and activity/adventure operators and travellerserviceso Develop a number of experience-based suggested itineraries and packages,working with a tour operatorTHE ECONOMIC PLANNING GROUP of Canada Newfoundland & Labrador Tourism Product DevelopmentD. W. Knight Associates Strategy and Accommodation Needs Study