Cabot Trail Solutions Conference

March 26, 2015

Development Priorities

Packages & Experiences

Packages & Experiences

• Increased profile for operators—for FREE

Enhanced listing on NovaScotia.com

Travel planning is easier for visitors—extend their stay

Creates partnerships among operators, while leveraging their marketing reach

Packages/ Experiences are used in other NSTA marketing activities, such as monthly email campaigns, which are sent to 72,000+ people

• Currently 31 Packages and 18 Experiences in the Cabot Trail region listed on NovaScotia.com

Leverage Reach

Development Priorities

Cabot Trail

Outdoor enthusiast

Culturalenthusiast Culinary

enthusiast

• Working to elevate the Cabot Trail as a world class destination

• Collaborating with partners to implement Roger Brooks’recommendations (2013)

• Priorities: Kiosks Viewpoints Gateway Signage Enhance Signage

Celtic Shores Coastal Trail

Outdoor enthusiast

Culturalenthusiast Culinary

enthusiast

• Nova Scotia’s first destination trail targeting cyclists Travel motivator

69% of PEI visitors plan to visit the Confederation Trail prior to travelling

PEI trail visitors account for over $2.7M annually

2010 VES found that 39% (1.04M) of visitors to NS took part in outdoor activities

If every outdoor enthusiast spent $5 more during their stay, tourism $$ would increase by a minimum of $2.03M

Celtic Shores Coastal Trail

Outdoor enthusiast

Culturalenthusiast Culinary

enthusiast

• To succeed as a destination trail, the CSCT needs:

Industry Support (packages/experiences, trail-themed products/services)

Municipal Support (infrastructure, bike racks, signage, washrooms)

Community Awareness & Support

Paddling

Outdoor enthusiast

Culturalenthusiast Culinary

enthusiast

• TCT waterways project Identifying paddling routes

across the Bras d’Or Lake Identifying and developing

access points Community consultations

were held over the winter

• Connection to other initiatives: Bras d’Or Lake UNESCO

Biosphere Reserve Cape Breton Blueways

Culinary

• Enhanced promotion of our high-quality culinary experiences

• Currently, there are two culinary experiences in the Cabot Trail Region

Baddeck Culinary Creations: A 100km Menu

Fall Fungi Foraging and Feasting

• What could be added?

Crab/ oyster-based experience – Top of the Island?

Seafood-based Acadian cuisine?

Lobster experience?

Cultural

• Currently, there are three cultural experiences in the Cabot Trail Region:

Lantern Walk Through Time (CBHNP)

Shipwrecks, Ruins & Pottery on Cape Breton Island (Learn about Highland Scots and meet CB artisan – Top of the Island)

Atlantic Fisheries Bike Tour on the Cabot Trail (Learn about fishery at Top of the Island)

• What could be added to better showcase your living Acadian, Mi’kmaq, and Celtic cultures?

New CTC and NSTA Partnership

• NSTA to oversee onboarding of provincial signature experiences

• Canadian Signature Experiences must be trade-ready

• Interested in becoming a Canadian Signature Experience? Review the CSE program info on

CTC website Contact Heather Yule, Acting

Manager of Development, NSTA at 902-798-6768 or heather.yule@novascotia.ca