New, modern tech at Port Saint John to enhance visitor experience
July 8, 2022 · Saint John, New Brunswick · Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA)Canada has much to offer the world as travel continues to safely resume: breathtaking landscapes and wide open spaces; diverse and inclusive experiences; and welcoming people from coast to coast to coast who provide outstanding service. Combined with a strong focus on health and safety and high COVID-19 vaccination rates, Canada is among the most alluring and smartest destination choices for visitors.The pandemic has had an undeniable impact on Canada’s tourism sector. The Government of Canada has helped keep tourism businesses open and the Tourism Relief Fund will help them be even better positioned to welcome back guests.Today, Wayne Long, Member of Parliament for Saint John – Rothesay, announced an investment of $67,500 for Port Saint John through the Tourism Relief Fund (TRF). The announcement was made on behalf of the Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Official Languages and Minister responsible for ACOA.The project will digitize the visitor welcome experience at Port Saint John’s cruise terminals. New digital tools, such as wayfinding screens and iPads for the welcome crew, will help visitors explore tourism options based on their preferences. These digital upgrades will enhance the tourism experience and help promote Saint John and the Fundy Bay area as a world-class destination.Launched in July 2021, the Tourism Relief Fund (TRF) was created to help organizations and businesses in the tourism sector adapt their operations to meet public health requirements, offer innovative products and services to visitors and prepare to welcome back travellers. The TRF is administered by Canada’s regional development agencies (RDAs) and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED).Quotes“As we recover from this pandemic, we are focused on being there for the tourism sector. With the support announced today, Port Saint John will be able to prepare for the future. This is an important step in the recovery effort that will allow visitors to discover the world-class tourism experiences Atlantic Canada has to offer.”- The Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Official Languages and Minister responsible for ACOA“The Canadian tourism sector continues to be one of the most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. We are fully committed to supporting businesses and organizations through these challenging times, keeping safety as the top priority while ensuring they get support to quickly recover, innovate their products and services, and thrive. The Tourism Relief Fund will help businesses adapt, make improvements, and be ready to welcome back guests. It also feeds into a broader strategy to help the sector survive the pandemic, recover and grow. The Canadian economy will not fully recover until our tourism sector recovers.”- The Honourable Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance“We have always known about the tourism treasures that exist right here in Saint John and the Fundy Bay area. This investment is helping Port Saint John modernize its operations and showcase tourism excellence, providing an efficient and inclusive customer experience that will provide economic benefits throughout the region.”- Wayne Long, Member of Parliament for Saint John – Rothesay“As we look beyond the challenges of the past few years, we look optimistically forward to ensuring a strong cruise tourism industry in the region. We’re excited to have enhanced our visitor experience with a Welcome Crew who are equipped with the right digital tools to engage guests as they make important choices of what they will see and do in the breathtaking beauty of our Fundy region.”- Craig Bell Estabrooks, President & CEO, Port Saint JohnQuick facts
The tourism sector is a key contributor to the Canadian economy. In 2019, tourism generated over $104 billion in revenue and directly employed 692,000 people, including those in underrepresented groups like women, students, racialized people, and Indigenous populations.
With a national budget of $500 million, including $485 million for regional priorities administered by Canada’s Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) and $15 million for national priorities administered by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, the Tourism Relief Fund is part of the billion dollars in tourism support announced in Budget 2021.
A minimum of $50 million of the fund’s budget has been earmarked for Indigenous tourism projects. Indigenous communities that rely heavily on tourism have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic.
$48.5 million from the Tourism Relief Fund has been allocated to ACOA to administer the fund in the Atlantic region.
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ContactsMarianne BlondinPress SecretaryOffice of the Minister of Official Languages and of theAtlantic Canada Opportunities AgencyMarianne.Blondin@acoa-apeca.gc.ca Ann KenneySenior Communications OfficerAtlantic Canada Opportunities AgencyAnn.Kenney@acoa-apeca.gc.ca Jane BurchillSpecialistCommunications & SustainabilityPort Saint John506-343-3707jburchill@sjport.com
