Newfoundland and Labrador Product Development Strategy

- 62 -A related issue is recreational vehicle rentals. There are one or two operators providing thisservice in the province. However, the growing interest from European markets inNewfoundland and Labrador (Fly/RV rental programs for the European market are a big sellerin other provinces), suggests a potential opportunity has been for more RV rentals in theprovince.MotorcoachFor the most part, the motorcoach equipment offered by local coach operators to touroperators in Newfoundland and Labrador is old, in a poor state of repair and prohibitivelyexpensive. While there is some good quality equipment available, the supply is very limited,to put it mildly. Tour operators are therefore, at great cost, bringing in coaches from NewBrunswick to operate their Newfoundland and Labrador itineraries so as to ensure that theyhave access to reasonable quality, safe equipment.Local tour operators operate some 70 – 80 tours a year, averaging 10 days each, translatinginto some 700 or 800 motorcoach days suggesting a market opportunity for new equipment tobe provided in the province.Environmental and Cultural SustainabilityThe issue of natural resource preservation was identified as an area of highest importance bymany of the tourism stakeholders interviewed. The key issue is the lack of an integratedresource management or land use plan that identifies critical areas for tourism and sets forth aprocess to ensure there are special management considerations in these areas. Particular areasof concern identified included:o Conflicts with forestry uses including logging for pulp and paper manufacturing aswell as lumbering and firewood harvesting. Clear cutting in and immediately adjacentto areas of high tourism value is a particular concern. Also, the development of anextensive network of woods roads with no requirement to decommission these roadsafter harvesting is an issue.o Rapid deterioration in the landscapes of the province due to established resourceharvesting and the absence of site rehabilitation practices.o ‘Dumping’ of waste including car wrecks in some areas, and unsightly premiseso The lack of provincial planning efforts and zoning plans to guide what should happenin lands that have tourism values or are adjacent to major tourism resourcesIt is evident that the tourism industry and the Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreationneed to be taking a much more active role in ensuring the protection of the naturalenvironment in the province. The tourism needs and agenda must be considered in futureresource management planning.THE ECONOMIC PLANNING GROUP of Canada Newfoundland & Labrador Tourism Product DevelopmentD. W. Knight Associates Strategy and Accommodation Needs Study