Nova Scotia's visitor information centres could be eliminated, union fears

Nearly a year after the Liberal government announced the closure of two visitor information centres in Pictou and Digby, staff at the remaining bureaus in Nova Scotia worry they may be next.

"Based on their past experience and rumours on the ground and speaking with politicians, they believe that the visitor information centres will not be opening," said Joan Jessome, president of the Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union.

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The union represents 118 tourism employees. Jessome said contracts that run out at the end of next month still haven't been renewed and an opening date for seasonal centres still hasn't been announced.

The conclusion employees are drawing is their jobs will soon be eliminated.

Any changes could potentially affect 70 employees — 56 seasonal staff and 14 year-round staff — who work at the six visitor information centres operated by Tourism Nova Scotia.

Martha Stevens, acting CEO at Tourism Nova Scotia, says those numbers fluctuate from year to year. She says a "strategic review" of the agency's action plans are rooted in the goal of doubling revenue by 2024 to $4 billion.

"As part of that strategic review, we are looking at all of our programs and looking to make the most effective and evidence-based decisions to get us online to meet those ambitious goals over the next several years." 

Tourism Nova Scotia is the agency at arm's length of government now responsible for promoting tourism in the province.

No clear answers from government

The minister responsible for tourism is out of the province; Transportation Minister Geoff MacLellan is acting in Mark Furey's place.

MacLellan said he didn't know when a decision might come, only that government hadn't made a final determination on the fate of the centres.

As for their continued value in a world dominated by internet searches for tourism information, MacLellan was less than reassuring. 

"If there's a role for them to play, obviously Tourism Nova Scotia will take that into consideration," said MacLellan.

Stevens agreed, adding that "moving more of our information online to make sure we're where our consumers are and be top of mind when they're looking for that information is of critical importance to us." 

Everything 'under review'

Jessome offered a more direct defence of her members and their work.

She said one worker at the Yarmouth information centre had a long conversation last year with a couple just off the ferry who were looking for directions to Prince Edward Island.

"She sold them on Nova Scotia," said Jessome. "They spent their two weeks in Nova Scotia. They didn't go to P.E.I. So Google will not have that knowledge of that personal touch to encourage people to spend their money here, and not visit other provinces, not to use our province as a drive-thru."

Stevens says visitor services in communities are still important.

"We'll continue to keep those communities abreast as to how we move forward in the roles that we can play," Stevens said. "All options and all programs are under review."