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Tourism Research Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the economic value of the Newfoundland and Labrador Tourism Industry to the Provincial Economy?
2. What are some of the other benefits of the Newfoundland and Labrador Tourism Industry to the Provincial Economy?
3. How many non-resident visitors does Newfoundland and Labrador receive? How much money do they spend? Is this available by mode of travel?
4. Does the Department collect information on the characteristics of the non-resident visitors traveling to the province?
5. Does the Department collect statistics and performance measures on specific sites and facilities within the province?
6. Does the Department collect and monitor statistics related to the province’s accommodation sector?
7. How can Tourist Establishment operators send their monthly statistical report to the Department?
8. Where can I get statistics on the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador?

1. What is the economic value of the Newfoundland and Labrador Tourism Industry to the Provincial Economy?

The tourism industry is comprised of both resident and non-resident trips and their related expenditures/spending. The most recent statistics (2010) indicate that expenditures/spending reached $879 million, with the resident component representing approximately 53% of the total expenditures/spending and the non-resident component accounting for 47%.

The Department of Finance through the province's input/output model estimates that the direct contribution of all tourism activity to the province's economy during 2006 was $226 million in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) or 1.0% of the economy. This exceeds agriculture and forestry (both 0.8% of GDP) and equals fishing, hunting and trapping (together 1.0%).

The Department of Finance also estimates that in 2006, tourism activity supported $160 million in labour income and generated direct employment for 12,730 people (8,637 direct person years) in tourism related and other occupations. Any changes in spending by resident and non-resident tourists/travelers will have direct impact on this level of employment.

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2. What are some of the other benefits of the Newfoundland and Labrador Tourism Industry to the Provincial Economy?

Tourism, as an export industry, brings new money to the provincial economy. These new dollars are important in generating economic wealth and prosperity in Newfoundland and Labrador.

The entire province benefits from tourism as expenditures and jobs created due to tourism spending are distributed across all regions of Newfoundland and Labrador. Visitors stay in the province an average of 10 nights and spend their money on a variety of goods and services, many of which are produced locally.

Many tourism businesses are small and medium-sized enterprises and provide the bulk of today's services to visitors to the province while offering employment opportunities to local residents in rural areas and smaller communities as well as large service centres.

Tourism also helps support amenities used by local residents such as restaurants, gas stations, hiking trails, parks etc. thus adding to quality of life and the attractiveness of the province as a business location.

Tourism is a priority sector for partnership and investment by federal partners. Considerable investment has already been made over the past decade and there are additional opportunities to leverage federal funding support for tourism development and marketing initiatives through partners like ACOA, Human Resources Development Canada and the Canadian Tourism Commission.

Tourism is environmentally sustainable and largely a non-consumptive industry. Good planning for future growth will ensure that our natural and cultural heritage is preserved and that the province’s uniqueness as a travel destination is maintained.

Uncommon Potential: A Vision for Newfoundland and Labrador Tourism establishes a number of priorities and broad actions to guide the development of Newfoundland and Labrador's tourism industry over the next decade. It outlines the seven strategic directions that indicate the kind of future we want to build for Newfoundland and Labrador, and the increased economic value we want to achieve.

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3. How many non-resident visitors does Newfoundland and Labrador receive? How much money do they spend? Is this available by mode of travel?

YES, blended estimates based on the Department’s exit survey and travel indicator program shows the province received approximately 518,500 visitors in 2010. In-province expenditures on all goods and services reached $410.6 million.  In 2010, 380,200 of the non-resident visitors traveled to the province by air, 116,200 arrived by automobile and 22,100 visited the province via cruise ship. In-province expenditures by mode of travel were $335.0 million, $73.8 million and $1.8 million respectively.

Historical data for the period 1973 to current is available for download below:

• Non-Resident Visitors by mode of travel 1973 to 2010

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4. Does the Department collect information on the characteristics of the non-resident visitors traveling to the province?

YES, the Department implements occasional exit surveys to allow estimates on the level of non-resident visits as well as visitor characteristics. These characteristics include but are not limited to origin, purpose of trip, party size, length of stay, expenditure patterns, accommodation used, areas visited, activities participated in and demographics.

A copy of the latest Exit Survey Program highlights is presented on the Department’s web site under publications or at the following link .

A copy of the follow-up survey which examined the attitudes, perceptions and experiences of the province’s leisure visitor is presented on the Department’s web site under publications or at the following link

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5. Does the Department collect statistics and performance measures on specific sites and facilities within the province?

YES, the Tourism Research Division, Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation is responsible for the maintenance of a travel/tourism database that permits the monitoring of various travel/tourism statistical indicators.

These indicators include but are not limited to Marine Atlantic passenger movements, airport activity, cruise ship activity, accommodation occupancy statistics and visits to regional museums, Provincial visitor information centres, National Historic Sites, Provincial Historic Sites, National Parks and Provincial Parks.

Summary travel/tourism indicators are presented on the Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation website.

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6. Does the Department collect and monitor statistics related to the province's accommodation sector?

YES, in accordance with section 16 of the Tourist Establishment Regulations, tourist establishment operators are required to provide monthly statistical summaries to the Department. This includes data related to room/site availability/capacity, sales and associated revenue. Under provincial legislation (Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act) all personal data collected by the department is considered confidential and all information provided by operators is confidential at the property level.

• Tourism Establishment Regulations
• Accommodation Statistics Program (Description and Guidelines)
• Accommodation Statistics Program (Tourist Establishment Monthly Statistical Report Form)
• Accommodation Statistics Program (On-Line Reporting Instructions)

All data collected is used in summary form only to provide monthly summaries on occupancy rates and average daily rates at a variety of reporting levels (Province, Economic Zone, Region, Accommodation Type as well as custom reporting based on user defined requirements).

Summary accommodation statistics are presented on the Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation website.

Please contact the Tourism Research Division if you wish to obtain additional summary accommodation statistics.

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7. How can Tourist Establishment operators send their monthly statistical report to the Department?

Operators can submit their monthly report by mail, fax, e-mail or on-line.

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8. Where can I get statistics on the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador?

The Newfoundland & Labrador Statistics Agency is the central point within Government for the collection, management and distribution of economic, social, demographic and fiscal data relating to Newfoundland and Labrador.  The Agency is governed by legislation introduced in 1977.

Please visit the following web site for additional information provided by The Newfoundland & Labrador Statistics Agency

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