Newfoundland and Labrador Product Development Strategy

- 65 -- The operation of eight Provincial Historic Sites, Provincial Museums in St. John’s,Grand Bank, Grand Falls-Windsor and the Labrador Interpretation Centre in NorthWest River,- Support to the Cultural and Heritage Industries through vehicles such as theNewfoundland and Labrador Arts Council, the Heritage Foundation ofNewfoundland and Labrador, the Arts and Letters Competition and the six Arts andCulture Centres across the Province, and- Preparation of a Heritage Systems Plan for the Province.o The former Parks & Natural Areas Division is now under the Department of Environmentand Conservation. It is responsible for 15 Provincial Parks and 6 Wilderness andEcological Reserves and for preparing a Natural Areas Systems Plan.- Headquartered in Deer Lake, the Division includes a Director and Managers ofOperations and Environmental Education.- There is an interpretive program in six of the parks.o The Marketing Division is primarily responsible for marketing but plays an indirect role inproduct development, such as in its work with tour operators. It is also the lead on therecently established Tourism Marketing Council, a joint effort with the tourism industry.CommentsThe Strategic Product Development Division is under-funded and has little resources for otherthan basic staff salaries; its role has been largely involved with regulatory and licensingmatters. There is no staff dedicated to the development of cultural and heritage tourismproducts, and a program of professional development is needed for the Division’s staff.Likewise the Parks and Natural Areas division as well as the Museums and Historic Sitesdivision are greatly under-funded. The Parks and Natural Areas division is in need of moniesfor re-capitalization and additional interpretive programming at its facilities. The Museumsand Historic Sites division has extremely limited resources, both human and financial.Resources are needed for the upgrading and enhancement of facilities, for significantlyexpanding the programming and events offered at the sites and providing for fullprogramming in the fall shoulder season.Department of Innovation, Trade and Rural DevelopmentThe Department is focused on development of rural economies across the province and onadvancing the provincial government’s Jobs and Growth Strategy (which includes severalinitiatives development of the tourism industry).THE ECONOMIC PLANNING GROUP of Canada Newfoundland & Labrador Tourism Product DevelopmentD. W. Knight Associates Strategy and Accommodation Needs Study