Newfoundland and Labrador Product Development Strategy

- 234 -Western7. Gateway/Festival Coast, western South Coast8. Corner Brook and Humber Valley9. Viking Trail, including South Coast LabradorRest of LabradorServices provided within Destination LabradorThe RTDAs should meet all of the following criteria:o They should be recognized as being the representative organizations for the tourismindustry stakeholders in their area in addressing tourism product development, tourisminfrastructure and visitor services issues for their region, its designated destination areasand communitieso They should have a mandate and agenda that is complementary to the tourism strategy forthe province and the regional DMO for their regionWe propose that nine ‘Regional Tourism Coordinators’ be assigned by the proposed newprovincial tourism development agency to work with them on an ongoing basis, under thegeneral direction of the provincial agency, as advisors and as liaison people to connect them withthe programs and services that are available from the various tourism development agencies inthe province.To the extent possible, these positions would be filled by secondments of staff from DTCR (3?)and DITRD regional staff (6?) and funded by those departments. They would work out ofDITRD regional offices (or perhaps the regional DMO office), which would provideadministrative support to them.With the support of these experienced professionals, the RTDAs can make more effective use ofthe less experienced co-ordinators they currently employ, usually through HRSD.The tourism co-ordinators would ensure that the organizations they are assisting are familiar withthe tourism strategy for the province, the opportunities identified for their region, as well as theprograms that are available to them for development and marketing. They would advise them asto the merits, or lack thereof, of their project proposals, on how to proceed in pursuing supportfor them and also assist with the submission. Finally they would act as a resource to both sidesof a potential transaction and endeavour to facilitate a successful outcome.Participating and Supporting Industry OrganizationsAnd there are four organizations involved directly in participating with, working with andfinancially assisting the foregoing:o HNLo The Province – DTCR and DITRDo ACOATHE ECONOMIC PLANNING GROUP of Canada Newfoundland & Labrador Tourism Product DevelopmentD. W. Knight Associates Strategy and Accommodation Needs Study