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Home » Tourism Issues

5 Reasons Why Atlantic Canada Needs the Ferry Service

Submitted by Kim on Saturday, 30 January 20105 Comments

nova scotia tourism, nova scotia hotelThe new NDP government has been saddled with many problems in its first few months in power: labour disputes, budget deficits and even traveling expenses. However, as troubling as these items are now nothing will come back to bite Nova Scotia and the other Atlantic problems like the termination of a ferry service between the U.S. and Nova Scotia.

For those who either think that a ferry service is a drain on Nova Scotia taxpayers, or who just couldn’t care less, ponder the following:

1.  The South Shore Economy

Without the ferry running people back and forth between the U.S. and Nova Scotia the businesses of the South Shore and lower Annapolis Valley will be directly affected. This includes every business from bed-and-breakfasts to convenient stores. These are enterprises that pay taxes (HST and income), money that goes into the tax and school system.  Without this influx of revenue both Canadian taxpayers and those from the towns in the county  of “I-Couldn’t-Really-Care, Nova Scotia” will have to pony up to keep schools and infrastructure up.

2.  Geography

Take a good look at a map of North America. Nova Scotia is stuck out into the Atlantic. Now look at the major centers and ask yourself, “If a person wanted to come here from the U.S.,  how would would they come in?” The airlines are expensive, and  driving here looks like The Great Trek. The ferry from Bar Harbor or Portland gave travelers more reason to come here.

3.  Gateway to Atlantic Canada

With the ferry to Yarmouth a family from Boston or other parts of the eastern U.S. who wanted to visit Atlantic Canada could take in 4 provinces in one trip. Landing in Yarmouth they made their way up to to Cape Breton and took another ferry to Newfoundland. On the way back they got on another ferry at Caribou and visited P.E.I., then took the Confederation bridge to New Brunswick – where they were on the highway back through new Brunswick and home. This routing makes it more attractive for Americans to visit Newfoundland, a choice that may not be a priority without the ferry.

4.  Foreign Tour Companies

I just mentioned that the routing is best for FIT (free independent travelers) travelers but what about the bus tours? Each year hundreds of buses come across on the ferry system. Without the ferry their plans would be altered and a “Canadian Tour” might miss out on staples like the Cabot Trail or Kejimkujik National Park.  Again, look at the map and see it as if you are a tour designer. The route is not as attractive without the ferry.

5.  Halifax Will be the Sole Entry Point

Although I live in HRM this area is just a part of Nova Scotia. Right now cruise ships have turned seeing Nova Scotia into a half-day trip from the Pier21. Without a ferry this phenomenon could grow so that that more and more tours will be designed using Halifax as the hub instead of part fo the entire tour.

We may not need the ferry in its present form, but we could definitely use the old-style, car-carrying ships that run on a dependable schedule. Because it’s easy to dismiss the ferry when its -10 Celsius but the real cost will hit us next fall when we read about the 2010 tourism statistics and business closures.

5 Comments »

  • Paula said:

    I live in Lunenburg Nova Scotia and probably next to Yarmouth itself, one of the towns that benefits the most from the ferry. I will be perfectly clear..I am not a, “I-Couldn’t-Really-Care” Nova Scotian just because I don’t support a ferry service that cannot sustain itself. By the way, isn’t that the goal of this Province and its communities? To be developing business that is sustainable? After all these years and bailout after bailout the CAT proved to be too expensive to run for the benefit or need it brought to its customers. Nova Scotia/Boston by air can be cheaper a lot of the time, even with packages that include a car.

    It is too bad that the operators of the CAT couldn’t get the formula for success right, but it is not the fault or the responsibility of the government and the people of Nova Scotia to bail out this company yet again…or any other company in this Province no matter the industry for that matter.

  • Kim (author) said:

    Thanks for the comment, Paula. You bring up some good points. It’s great to hear from those who live outside of Halifax and Yarmouth.

  • Doug said:

    I’m from Boston and frequently make the trek to Cape Breton. Flights are so ridiculously expensive between Boston and Halifax, and there’s no clear bus or train route anymore. I’m forced to take a bus to Montreal, and then fly from Montreal to Halifax to find a reasonable fare. I’m okay with this longer journey, but would love to see a Boston to Halifax ferry. See link: http://www.boston-halifax-ferry.com/

  • Kim (author) said:

    Thanks for the link to your great site, Doug! I will do a follow-up post.

  • betty neisler said:

    There are 4 women traveling from Atlanta, Ga. U.S. to Prince Edward Island and we want to take the ferry across to Nova Scotia as a day trip. We have already taken a house for a week on Prince Edward are
    hoping to use that location for day trips into Nova Scotia and New Foundland. Anybody that can help us, please speak up. We will be
    traveling with 2 little chihuahua dogs who weigh 5 and 8 pounds and live inside with us all the time.

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