Newfoundland and Labrador Product Development Strategy

- 143 -Some suggestions:o Build on strengths, not weaknesso Make sure you know who your markets are and what they seek to buyo Do a few things very well, with sufficient resources to make them worko Be different; don’t copy what others did; develop your own unique selling propositionso Close the door on other like projects once the opportunity has been fulfilled; don’tundermine the early birds by having too many of anythingo Do your homework first and get advice from knowledgeable tourism peopleAll of the foregoing tests should be applied in both directing community economic developmentactivities in tourism and in judging their worthiness for support.Achieving this outcome will clearly require appropriate linkages between the efforts of botheconomic development officials and tourism officials. This will be addressed later in the report.Filling GapsThere are instances where the absence of some tourism service or piece of infrastructure ismaking it difficult or impossible to grow tourism in an area. In areas that rate well asdestination areas and/or have real potential for tourism growth, it should be a priority to addressthe gap.Often a gap has to do with accommodations supply, either the absolute availability ofaccommodations, or of quality facilities, or accommodations of the character that can contributeto the appeal of the destination and hold people in the area longer. In other instances, the gap hasto do with some infrastructure that is missing.Examples of current gaps include:o Quantity and quality of accommodations in selected locationso A mix of the types of accommodations sought by touristso Evening entertainment/activities in most communitieso Cultural programming in most communitieso Interpretation, animation at cultural and heritage siteso Restaurants having varied menuso Car rental depots (eg: Port Aux Basques, more in St. Anthony)THE ECONOMIC PLANNING GROUP of Canada Newfoundland & Labrador Tourism Product DevelopmentD. W. Knight Associates Strategy and Accommodation Needs Study