Anyone admiring the Annapolis Basin in all its autumn glory yesterday could not possibly have missed the behemoth named Balmoral.  What a stunning sight to see!  And despite a gloomy and cold morning, passengers were warmed by the welcome they received ashore.

Still not convinced about the power of social media, or that you can master the techniques?  Here's a tasty bit of inspiration for all you small business owners out there!

 

A visit to Trinity is like stepping back into the past in many ways, it is "total immersion". There is a genuine respect, which approaches reverence, for the skills and tenacity which sustained life and fostered such a remarkable seafaring culture. These people seem to appreciate their past in a way we do not. How can we foster a greater appreciation for our heritage?  Properly nurtured, the benefits of such appreciation will be felt on a spiritual as well as a monetary level.

 

Trinity, Newfoundland, on the Bonavista Peninsula, has been painstakingly restored to resemble the grandeur of its 18th and 19th century heyday as a major port, refuge from the sea and fish processing centre. That took a lot of money, and it wasn't all federal and provincial handouts. Dedicated people from across the province collected unique items for auction in St. John's (a more lucrative market - our equivalent would be Halifax - fundraising took place in England through descendants of the founding families of Trinity (who were still monied people thanks to the bounty of Newfoundland's waters), and there were even unicyclists who pedalled across the province to raise funds! If you have some fundraising ideas, especially ways to draw support from outside our region, share them here on the blog, with your tourism association, or municipal reps.

 

On the St. John's waterfront stands a weathered building from a by-gone age - it is a non-descript bonded warehouse which has clearly seen better days. Why would anyone want to spend precious vacation time visiting such a site? It's all about the story. In damp, dark, slightly spooky ambiance (best seen at night!) your guide will take you back to the days when Newman's Wine Vaults stored the world's choicest port. According to tradition, a Newman's ship bound for London in 1679 was driven far from its planned course by pirates and foul weather. The captain of the ship sought shelter in St. John's, and as winter was approaching, it was decided to remain there until spring. The ship's cargo of wine was stored in caves, and when the ship returned to London, the flavour of the port seemed to have improved. Thereafter, Newman's sent its port to mature in Newfoundland wine cellars. The wine which was shipped from Newfoundland to England became very popular in English pubs and amongst the aristocracy.

Our area, too, is home to many off-beat sites which boast compelling stories just waiting to be shared - the haunting ferry wreck off Digby Neck in the 1940s, the ghosts which frequent our old homes and public buildings, or maybe one that you can share with us....

 

Newfoundland tourism accommodation revenue is up 41% over the last four years. Occupancy rates are up 18%. They must be doing something right...granted, their media ads are fantastic. They've received untold billions to prop up their economy since the collapse of the fishery. And they are now a "have" province, enjoying a surge in fossil fuel revenues. But there is something more going on...

Over the next couple of weeks, we'll talk about what we can learn from Newfoundland's tourism surge. Last month I was part of a Nova Scotia mission to The Rock examining "Living History and Cultural Tourism". Hal Theriault from our region also participated. It was an inspiring experience.

First thing we noticed upon arrival in St. John's is that these people are PROUD. They love their Rock and they rejoice in their culture, especially their storytelling, their music and the hardships in which that culture was fostered. They love to talk about all things Newfoundland, and they are knowledgeable about their province. Who would think a culture constructed on codfish could be so compelling? But it is...