Annual Report 2000 - Halifax Regional Municipality

Tourism, Culture & Heritage
34
I
n 1999, the tourism
industry in Nova Scotia
generated $1.27 billion
dollars, making tourism
the province’s second
largest industry. Tourism
receipts in the
municipality accounted
for over 50% of this total,
putting well over $600
million dollars into the
local economy.
Tourism, Culture &
Heritage’s mandate, in
addition to working
within the mainstream
commercial tourism
infrastructure, is to
continue to develop a new
stream tourism, adventure
tourism and cultural and
heritage sites. The
Tourism, Culture &
Heritage Business Unit
comprises: a Marketing
Division, whose function
is to develop and deliver
an overall marketing
strategy to promote the
municipality as a
destination for business
and leisure travel; Civic
Events & Festivals
Division organizes and
manages municipal
created or supported
special events; Visitors
Services Division provides
information to visitors;
and Culture & Heritage
Division is responsible for
the delivery of services
related to culture and
heritage.
Accomplishments
Cruise Ship Attraction
As founding members
of the Atlantic Canada
Cruise Association,
marketing staff played a
lead role in expanding the
region’s potential to attract
the cruise ship segment.
Halifax is now one of the
most popular Ports of Call
on the cruise region, the
New Atlantic Frontier.
Halifax’s 250 th Birthday
Celebrations
Staff were involved in
implementing many
special programs for
Halifax’s 250th
anniversary celebrations,
including an historic reenactment
of the 1749
landing of founder,
Colonel Edward
Cornwallis and his settlers.
Heritage HRM Millennium
Project “One City, Many
Communities” Published
In conjunction with
the HRM Millennium
Project, the first municipal
guide to more than 188
communities which form
the amalgamated Halifax
Regional Municipality,
was published. Entitled
“One City, Many
Communities,” written by
Alfreda Withrow, the
guide provides readers
with an insight into the
cultural and historic
diversity of our many
communities.
Visitor Information
In 1999, the number of
visitors receiving assistance
rose 28% with more than
140,000 people visiting
the HRM Visitor
Information Centre
between January and
August.