Another great article and the best one I have read on the situation as it currently stands. Dexter was wise to cut this service due to the issues at the time (that are magnified today). I life in southwestern NS and with Bowater now gone, it is something that is being discussed even more as a way to increase tourists.
With the US is dire straits, where are we planning to get these tourists? Also, for the jobs that will be created, is it worth the money? I am the first to agree that investment is needed to create jobs but going back to a solution that didn’t work the last time, probably isn’t the best investment.
Well done Bill as this captures the view of a sadly, quiet, but large part of the population.
Americans visiting NS by car from June 1 to Sept 30 2010 totalled 66000 compared to 260000 in 1972 (Canadian dollar at $1.02 US) and 95000 in 1953. This is an astonishing decline considering the USA remains the world’s richest travel market..considering the huge improvements of the roads and the vehicles on them..and considering the general increase in standard of living and population in the USA over the past 60 years.The USA is our closest foreign travel market and their average daily spending is almost twice that of visitors from Atlantic Canada..Today,more than ever,Nova Scotia offers an attractive,safe,cool (temperate) and safe travel destination for Americans…with countless beautiful places that are accessible,inexpensive and uncrowded.This year’s testimonials by the world’s top travel guides (Frommer’s and The Lonely Planet) attest to this. And for Americans who prefer not to travel by air (ie. rather by car or tour bus or motorcycle or bicycle or recreational vehicle or ferry or train) Canada remains their only foreign travel destination where English is an official language (except Belize)..Given the above,I believe good marketing can bring the USA market back to levels achieved 40 years ago.
The” Ferry decision makes” ongoing cents (“sense”?)…as it is one of those pressurized decisions governments talk themselves into. It ‘wants’ more tourism – which the tide went out on in the 70s. – and the rest of us are left to pay for this ‘hope’.
There was a time when the businessmen of southwest Nova Scotia would make this ferry a reality on their own. The same esprit had shipyards building ships and miners and steel-plants busily employing people across the province.
Then along came our governments slowly relegating such work to the scrap heap.
Tourists go where they feel wanted.
While I disagree with how the government handled this issue from the start, I absolutely support marine infrastructure for NS and a link to the US. Some of the numbers stated are misleading and out of proper context. The 2002 figures you reference was when we had both ferries operating and the last year of service numbers for the Cat were a result of cut crossings. Your economic projections do not take into account the indirect economic impact. You say government continues to invest in dying industries and nothing is further from the truth as it relates to tourism. Global tourism is on the rise with growth expected to average 4% worldwide. This industry continues to show resilience in spite of the lack of attention and government investment. The US is getting it with the President announcing an additional 400million in marketing this year and a major overhaul of policies that have been impeding travel into their Country, and as a result International tourism is up significantly year to date for the US. Tourism is an export industry and holds great potential for the province, it is unfortunate as a Province we do not have a better understanding of what the visitor economy can do. We can do it better – we can build even greater economic activity. The announcement last week is a start with lots of work to do – it is just too bad so much suffering has had to take place for small businesses all over the province.
Darlene thank you for your comment. All of the numbers in the article come from the report. On page 53 it states that the job numbers include spinoff and multiplier effects.
A huge problem with this scheme is the Portland side of the link. I personally took the Scotia Princess in July of 2005 and the terminal facility at that time(belonging to the City of Portland) was in such bad shape that the reception building was condemned for mold spoors. In 2004 and 2005 I worked on Cruise Ships including the Queen Mary 2 and the Scotia Princess was small in comparison to the typical cruise ship size. With the Portland Marine Terminal, probably the only option to dock , the Nova Scotia government talking cruise ferry and P&O ferries of Europe expressing interest I doubt very much P&O has a ship that will fit under the small traffic bridge between the Portland Ferry Terminal and the Gulf of Maine. Darrell Dexter and company again step into something without really knowing for purely political reasons. They know that with Bowater gone their chances of re electing their south shore MLA is very dependent on this Ferry Scheme. The fact that the Scotia Princess was a 1970s vintage ship that was cut up for scrap in Bangladesh probably speaks to the viability of the Portland to Yarmouth ferry. P&O will find out the truth that the customer base between is not like Hull England to Rotterdam Holland, Liverpool to Dublin or Belfast to Glasgow. The only way I can see a viable ferry to New England might be Yarmouth to Boston or Halifax to Boston.
Bill,
Another great article and the best one I have read on the situation as it currently stands. Dexter was wise to cut this service due to the issues at the time (that are magnified today). I life in southwestern NS and with Bowater now gone, it is something that is being discussed even more as a way to increase tourists.
With the US is dire straits, where are we planning to get these tourists? Also, for the jobs that will be created, is it worth the money? I am the first to agree that investment is needed to create jobs but going back to a solution that didn’t work the last time, probably isn’t the best investment.
Well done Bill as this captures the view of a sadly, quiet, but large part of the population.
Dave | September 28, 2012 |
Americans visiting NS by car from June 1 to Sept 30 2010 totalled 66000 compared to 260000 in 1972 (Canadian dollar at $1.02 US) and 95000 in 1953. This is an astonishing decline considering the USA remains the world’s richest travel market..considering the huge improvements of the roads and the vehicles on them..and considering the general increase in standard of living and population in the USA over the past 60 years.The USA is our closest foreign travel market and their average daily spending is almost twice that of visitors from Atlantic Canada..Today,more than ever,Nova Scotia offers an attractive,safe,cool (temperate) and safe travel destination for Americans…with countless beautiful places that are accessible,inexpensive and uncrowded.This year’s testimonials by the world’s top travel guides (Frommer’s and The Lonely Planet) attest to this. And for Americans who prefer not to travel by air (ie. rather by car or tour bus or motorcycle or bicycle or recreational vehicle or ferry or train) Canada remains their only foreign travel destination where English is an official language (except Belize)..Given the above,I believe good marketing can bring the USA market back to levels achieved 40 years ago.
Allan Rodger | September 13, 2012 |
The” Ferry decision makes” ongoing cents (“sense”?)…as it is one of those pressurized decisions governments talk themselves into. It ‘wants’ more tourism – which the tide went out on in the 70s. – and the rest of us are left to pay for this ‘hope’.
There was a time when the businessmen of southwest Nova Scotia would make this ferry a reality on their own. The same esprit had shipyards building ships and miners and steel-plants busily employing people across the province.
Then along came our governments slowly relegating such work to the scrap heap.
Tourists go where they feel wanted.
g.s.stanfield | September 12, 2012 |
While I disagree with how the government handled this issue from the start, I absolutely support marine infrastructure for NS and a link to the US. Some of the numbers stated are misleading and out of proper context. The 2002 figures you reference was when we had both ferries operating and the last year of service numbers for the Cat were a result of cut crossings. Your economic projections do not take into account the indirect economic impact. You say government continues to invest in dying industries and nothing is further from the truth as it relates to tourism. Global tourism is on the rise with growth expected to average 4% worldwide. This industry continues to show resilience in spite of the lack of attention and government investment. The US is getting it with the President announcing an additional 400million in marketing this year and a major overhaul of policies that have been impeding travel into their Country, and as a result International tourism is up significantly year to date for the US. Tourism is an export industry and holds great potential for the province, it is unfortunate as a Province we do not have a better understanding of what the visitor economy can do. We can do it better – we can build even greater economic activity. The announcement last week is a start with lots of work to do – it is just too bad so much suffering has had to take place for small businesses all over the province.
Darlene | September 12, 2012 |
Darlene thank you for your comment. All of the numbers in the article come from the report. On page 53 it states that the job numbers include spinoff and multiplier effects.
Bill@newstart
Bill | September 12, 2012 |
A huge problem with this scheme is the Portland side of the link. I personally took the Scotia Princess in July of 2005 and the terminal facility at that time(belonging to the City of Portland) was in such bad shape that the reception building was condemned for mold spoors. In 2004 and 2005 I worked on Cruise Ships including the Queen Mary 2 and the Scotia Princess was small in comparison to the typical cruise ship size. With the Portland Marine Terminal, probably the only option to dock , the Nova Scotia government talking cruise ferry and P&O ferries of Europe expressing interest I doubt very much P&O has a ship that will fit under the small traffic bridge between the Portland Ferry Terminal and the Gulf of Maine. Darrell Dexter and company again step into something without really knowing for purely political reasons. They know that with Bowater gone their chances of re electing their south shore MLA is very dependent on this Ferry Scheme. The fact that the Scotia Princess was a 1970s vintage ship that was cut up for scrap in Bangladesh probably speaks to the viability of the Portland to Yarmouth ferry. P&O will find out the truth that the customer base between is not like Hull England to Rotterdam Holland, Liverpool to Dublin or Belfast to Glasgow. The only way I can see a viable ferry to New England might be Yarmouth to Boston or Halifax to Boston.
paul | September 12, 2012 |