Across the province
VOCM reports (link won't work forever) that:
Government has extended the operating season for visitor information centres across the province, in an effort to encourage tourism activity beyond the summer months.The story is based on this press release, issued on Friday, in which we are informed:
All VIC's will open tomorrow, which is about two weeks earlier than last year, and many will remain open until the end of October. Tourism Minister Tom Hedderson says VIC's play an integral role in the tourism industry, and are often the first point of contact for visitors to the province.
Government operates seven VICs located strategically throughout the province at major gateways and travel intersections in North Sydney, Port aux Basques, Deer Lake, Notre Dame Junction, Clarenville, Whitbourne and Argentia.Notice anything?
One of the seven VICs located "strategically throughout the province" is located in North Sydney. North Sydney is on Cape Breton Island, which is, or at least used to be, in Nova Scotia.
None of the seven are located in Labrador, which is, or at least used to be, in the province where Tom Hedderson is a cabinet minister.
By necessary implication, this means that "the province" consists of two major islands, namely Newfoundland and Cape Breton, and, furthermore, that Labrador is not part of the province.
Why are Labrador's major entry points — Labrador West, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, and L'Anse au Clair — dependent on community-run facilities, with much shorter seasons and fewer resources than full VICs? And why, for that matter, isn't there a provincial VIC in Blanc Sablon, which is just as much an entry point as North Sydney?
And, given that one of the justifications for the earlier season is that:
...provincial tourism statistics show that visitors are arriving in the province earlier in the year, particularly those wishing to see icebergs.and that the icebergs show up in Labrador before they do in Newfoundland, why are there no VICs in Labrador?
Isn't Labrador an integral part of the province?
Tom? Danny? Anyone?
posted by WJM @ 3:15 PM
3 Comments:
Good one
There are no provincial VICs in Labrador? How ridiculous.
When is the provincial government going to clue in? We will never make this province prosper until all parts of it are treated equally.
Over the years listening to news each day, there were a number of times I now recall noticing that whatever the news event or item was, that Labrador was left out at that particular time. This is a good example of that. It's hard to believe that this lack of acknowledgement, blindness, stupidity or whatever you want to call it, still stands out because of blatant bloopers like this. I can see why you'd be especially annoyed.
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home