PCs say taking out the trash will help tourism
Paul Davis said if re-elected the PCs will keep pumping money into the tourism industry.
The Conservative leader said Friday keeping Newfoundland and Labrador clean plays a big part in promotion and his party will implement a 'Pristine-NL' anti-littering campaign.
Continued promotion
Davis said his government would continue to work with groups like Hospitality NL to tap into new tourism markets and it will continue investing in things like museums, roads and ferries to keep rural areas connected.
"Tourism is so important to our province and I think we've just began to scratch the surface when it come to tourism," said Davis.
"We also have to make that acknowledgment and plant that thought with people continually that it's important to pick up your garbage and your litter and to keep our province pristine."
Davis said, in 2009, the PCs developed a 10-year strategy to grow tourism. He added that it was important to keep tourism funding at its current level as an important part of creating a sustainable economy.
"We want to make sure that we're continuing to drive. if we allow it to slide or lapse in anyway then we have to rebuild that," said Davis.
Trash plan
Making people understand that every gum wrapper that goes out the window ... adds to the problem and it paints a picture of our province that we don't have pride in.- Paul Davis
Using an aggressive marketing campaign and partnering with tourism groups, Davis said his government's plan has been very successful to date with over $1 billion in annual tourism spending. A crackdown on littering can go hand in hand.
"We've got some of the deepest, most interesting culture, background and history. We've got beautiful landscapes and seascapes … it is still a beautiful sight and it's still a beautiful province and we need to protect the province and we need everyone to be pulling oars together," said Davis.
The litter plan could include an ad campaign as well as changes to the law and its enforcement, but Davis said focus needs to be put on changing people's views and respecting the environment.
"Making people understand that every gum wrapper that goes out the window or every coffee cup; it adds to the problem and it paints a picture of our province that we don't have pride in."
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