Newfoundland and Labrador Product Development Strategy

- 144 -Section 8Strengthening Touring Corridors and HubsWhile attractions, activities and other demand influencers, and destination areas are vital parts ofthe tourism product mix, attention also needs to be given to communities in their other roles insupporting tourism, to touring routes and touring infrastructure.Communities as Service/Accommodation Centres, Hubs andGatewaysCommunities located within defined destination areas also commonly play a more general role asaccommodations and traveller service centres for both visitors to the area as well as those whoare touring or simply passing through.There are, however, a number of other communities in the province that also function as servicecentres for travellers, en route overnight stops, hubs for day tripping/touring and/or gateways totravel regions, and are the next category of tourism product needing attention. These arecommunities that are perhaps not demand influencers themselves to a large degree, but they arestrategically located, have a mix of traveller services, and/or can handle group tours. They aretherefore key parts of the tourism mix.In this case, the focus should be on strengthening the role that hubs play as service centres wherenecessary, by improving access to visitor information (this does not necessarily mean visitorinformation centres – information could be provided through point of sale displays and attourism businesses, for example), filling gaps in services and the like. They would also becandidates for new attractions, particularly those involving evening programs of appeal totourists. Having early evening entertainment definitely makes a community more appealing as astopover point.Being a hub for tourism services and activity (or a gateway to a region) can provide numerousbenefits to the community. For example, accommodations and therefore overnight stays wouldtend to be concentrated in hubs, thereby generating significant economic impacts to thecommunity. As well, group tours are more likely to stay in these locations than in smallercommunities due to the range of services provided and the easy access to transportation routes.Being a hub or service centre also provides an opportunity for the community develop activitiesand programs for visitors, and to encourage visitors to spend more time in the area, therebybenefiting the community even further. Hub and service centre communities should workclosely with other tourist destinations in their area to ensure that the visitors are provided with anappropriate mix of facilities and services, and to encourage visitors to spend time in the area. Thegraphic on the following page illustrates when it is appropriate to partner and when it isappropriate to compete.THE ECONOMIC PLANNING GROUP of Canada Newfoundland & Labrador Tourism Product DevelopmentD. W. Knight Associates Strategy and Accommodation Needs Study