Brian Gallant Visits Plaster Rock, Encourages #NBPROUD for Tourism

New Brunswick Premier Gallant spoke of the importance of tourism to the New Brunswick economy at a caucus retreat in Plaster Rock and encouraged caucus members to visit tourist attractions and to promote their visit on social media using the hashtag #NBPROUD. Tourism contributed $605 million to the New Brunswick GDP in 2015, a trend Gallant says is continuing into the 2016 tourism season.

The Premier says the tourism industry currently employs 42,100 people in the province. In 2015, non-resident visitor spending was $441 million. This spending, together with other tourism-related revenues, provided $87 million in provincial tax revenue.

“The Plaster Rock World Pond Hockey Championship is a great example of what we have to offer tourists during other seasons. By promoting tourism during all four seasons, we will create more jobs for New Brunswickers.”

Tourism, Heritage and Culture Minister John Ames said the tourism industry represents a key economic generator for the province and is complementary to many industries, including recreation and entertainment.”

The next set of data for the 2016 tourism season will be available in September.

#NBPROUD has been encouraged by Opportunities New Brunswick for a variety of economic and social ideas. Gallant is inviting New Brunswick officials and business interests to include tourism as part of the strategy, in addition to the #EXPLORENB tag already in use.