Liberal leader Kevin Vickers makes a campaign announcement on tourism in Bathurst on Friday, August 21st, 2020. (photo supplied by NBLA)
A Liberal government in New Brunswick would restore the tourism budget slashed by the Higgs government.
In Bathurst on Friday, Leader Kevin Vickers said Blaine Higgs abandoned this sector of the economy.
Vickers said the tourism budget was cut from $20.2 million to $12.8 million.
“In one swift swing of the axe, Blaine Higgs cut the department of tourism, heritage and culture budget by 40 per cent,” Vickers said.
“While the Atlantic bubble has allowed people from Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia to travel into our province and visit the many the many tourism destinations New Brunswick has to offer, the northern part of the province was disadvantaged given the distance from the borders,” Vickers said.
Vickers said the province of Nova Scotia brought in more than $2 billion in tourism revenue compared to New Brunswick’s $1.3 billion.
“They have an aspirational goal of having $4 billion in tourism revenue,” Vickers said.
Vickers said a Liberal government will improve the provincial points of entry by investing in provincial tourism centres.
“Rejuvenating and developing the beautiful scenic drives and signature trails we have in the Province and improving the welcome we provide our visitors will be important pieces of our tourism strategy,” Vickers said.
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