CBC News: Cruise industry cheers cash, calls for port upgrades: European tourists appear to be key to the strategy

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Cruise industry cheers cash, calls for port upgrades : European tourists appear to be key to the strategy

Canada: The chairman of Cruise Newfoundland and Labrador says more than cash will be needed to promote the province as a tourist destination. The Canadian federal government has announced $300,000 to help market the province's ports to the cruise industry, with the Newfoundland and Labrador tourism department kicking in another $100,000. Stelman Flynn, who is chairman of Cruise Newfoundland and Labrador, said the money will help bring tourist business to more remote parts of the province, including communities in Labrador, where he lives.About 20,000 cruise ship passengers are expected to pass through St. John's this year. Next year, he said, the estimated intake is about 55,000 passengers.European tourists appear to be key to the strategy. Cruise Newfoundland and Labrador recently signed agreements with Iceland, Greenland, the Faroe Islands and the Orkney Islands to help promote cruises in the North Atlantic rim.The funds announced Monday will be used, in part, in advertising and trade shows to raise awareness of ports of call in Newfoundland and Labrador.