Newfoundland and Labrador Product Development Strategy

- 272 -primarily of the hotel/motel variety with little in the way of demand influencing characteraccommodations. The tourism industry in the area has been working on a strategy for seriesof linked coastal experiences – the Bay of Exploits Coastal Tourism Initiatives includinghiking trails and interpretive signage, as well as other coastal activities and incorporatingareas such as Leading Tickles.Suggested Tourism Development Ideas Worthy of Further Consideration° Norris Arm – Flying Boat Re-Enactment and Heritage Facility° Snowmobiling link to Deer Lake (underway)° Signage for Salmon Interpretation Centre in Grand Falls° Implementation of key projects from the Exploits Coastal Trail Tourism initiative,including things such as hiking area, eagle viewing and iceberg watching in the LeadingTickles area° Beothuk themed experiences – satellite activities/interpretation connected to Boyd’s Cove;suggested itinerariesThe Central region of the province is also home to one of the several ‘sleeper destinations’identified earlier. The Coast of Bays area has appeals as a remote outdoor/wilderness area,for its coastal fjords and scenery and for its Aboriginal cultural heritage. However, servicesare very limited and the long distances through remote areas are a deterrent to visitors,particularly since they have to return via the same route. The concept of linking this region tothe Burin via a car ferry would certainly raise this region to a Tier 3 destination area. A moreextensive tourism product offer around the Aboriginal cultural/heritage in the area would alsoincrease the appeal of the area to the true ‘explorer’ markets. The proposed Arts and CulturalExploration Centre may provide a vehicle for these types of experiences. This area wouldalso benefit from the development of a south coast or ‘around the Island’ adventure cruisingproduct.Accommodation Supply, Demand, Needs and Opportunities ByZoneThe suggestions as to opportunities and needs for accommodations in this region wereidentified during the course of our work on this study from a number of sources – interviewswith tour operators, interviews with tourism industry stakeholders including private operators,representatives of industry associations and provincial and federal government staff, focusgroups with consumers, and findings from our field research and analysis. We have notassessed the market potential or financial feasibility of any of these accommodationproject ideas and do not, therefore, warrant that an opportunity actually exists. Theyshould not be taken as recommendations but as possibilities warranting furtherconsideration.The type and size of particular accommodation properties (new or expanded) proposed in anyarea should be based on a further assessment of the nature of the demand in the region, theTHE ECONOMIC PLANNING GROUP of Canada Newfoundland & Labrador Tourism Product DevelopmentD. W. Knight Associates Strategy and Accommodation Needs Study