(Y95 News photo)
Tourism operators in Nova Scotia are hoping the ferry season can be salvaged.
The CAT ferry remains docked in Yarmouth as upgrades continue to the terminal in Bar Harbor.
Neil MacKenzie with Yarmouth and Acadian Shores Tourism Association (YASTA) says the accommodations sector is down in visitor numbers due to the delay.
“And certainly other tourism operators that are offering experiences specific to visitors are definitely feeling the pinch and are having to get creative and look for other markets in the meantime.”
He says the Classic Car Show during Seafest helped boost the numbers and upcoming events will attract visitors to the area.
“In the this weekend we have the Goldwing Road Riders Association conference that has about 300 people visiting, there’s also the Communities In Bloom conference in September along with the Bay of Fundy Sea Kayaking symposium.”
YASTA had to tweak their marketing when Bay Ferries announced that its June 21 start date would be delayed and that was a challenge because their marketing had rolled out in January.
“So it’s difficult to pivot all of our efforts but we shifted those to other jurisdictions like St. John’s , more into New Brunswick, PEI.”
MacKenzie says YASTA would welcome any season extension as Transportation Minister Lloyd Hines hinted at last week.
Our newsroom has reached out to the minister for comment.
