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Wild Islands Tourism Advancement Partnership

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    • Background
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      • 1 Executive Summary
      • 2 Background and Context
      • 3 Strategic Approach
      • 4 Strategic Priorities and Actions
      • 5 Appendices
        • Appendix A – The Musquodoboit Harbour-Sherbrooke STEP Working Group
        • Appendix B – SWOT Analysis
        • Appendix C – Tourism Nova Scotia Visitor Statistics
        • Appendix D – Timeline of STEP Working Group Activities
        • Appendix E – Community Consultation #1 Inputs
        • Appendix F – Wild Atlantic Way Positioning/Brand Best Practice
        • Appendix G – The Tourism Nova Scotia Toolbox
        • Appendix H – Brand Creative Brief
        • Appendix I – Reference Documents Reviewed
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First public consultation – Oct 27, 2015

October 31, 2015

Table of contents

  • STEP Mission Statement
  • STEP Vision Statement
  • Objective # 1
  • Objective # 2
  • Objective # 3
  • Objective # 4
  • Objective # 5
  • Objective # 6
  • Objective # 7

Great turn-out for both afternoon and evening sessions, a lot of wonderful suggestions from the draft plan that was presented. First public consultation – Oct 27.

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STEP Mission Statement

The notes posted here are the stickies that were placed on each sign during the consultation.
STEP Mission Statement

step-mission

  • Need to label the shore and brand it
  • Engage the aboriginal people of Nova Scotia in this process for their input and ancient skills
  • Look-out info stops – history
  • Rest stops – Look outs, winter there are no stops between Jeddore and Sheet Harbour for any washroom facilities, roads, information areas
  • Be sure you have what you are selling – don’t create expectations that are unrealistic
  • Our tourist’s biggest comment is fix the roads
  • People, tour buses, cruises are tired of seeing Nova Scotia the same way over and over. The Eastern Shore offers a new product that is waiting to be discovered

STEP Vision Statement

The notes posted here are the stickies that were placed on each sign during the consultation.
STEP Vision Statement

  • step-visionToo long, should be two sentences – less adjectives and more direct – eco-tourism, adventure
  • Recreational fishing – tuna and shark
  • Nature based culinary experiences, local products, wild islands – eat wild meat, deer, moose, pheasant, etc
  • Support local art and artisan, historical artisans
  • Nature based destination
  • Needs to be in line with other economic activities – will be some conflict
  • More boat tours
  • Tourism is activities-driven –target 30 something eco-tourist
  • Canadian, coastal, engaging, touring experience
  • Lobster/Clam/Mussel Boil on the beach – getting clams/mussels themselves

Objective # 1

The notes posted here are the stickies that were placed on each sign during the consultation.
Objective # 1

  • objective-1Jobs – Spinoffs – Year Round jobs
  • We all need to be promoters of our products on the Eastern Shore when someone visits our businesses, we need to encourage them to also visit one another in the area
  • This seems more like a principle than a strategic outcome
  • Objective seems vague
  • Chicken before Egg – if we only have accommodations for one bus tour, how do we promote ourselves as a destination, we need infrastructure and entrepreneurial initiatives
  • Keep our people making a decent living in our own community, do something exciting and different as opposed to a call centre for example
  • Infrastructure, branding, capacity building (new jobs, new businesses), collaboration
  • New jobs that work for the communities

Objective # 2

The notes posted here are the stickies that were placed on each sign during the consultation.
Objective # 2 objective-2

  • Add that it is area realistic
  • Plan yearly – what and where will this be in 1 year, 5 years, etc
  • Don’t pit one industry/resource /community against another
  • Need to set out priorities to fit everyone
  • This seems more like a principle than a strategic outcome, the plan done in this way will be the outcome
  • What are the priorities
  • What are the 5, 10, 20 year goals

Objective # 3

The notes posted here are the stickies that were placed on each sign during the consultation.
Objective # 3

  • objective-3The Islands and their history: People, fishing, etc
  • Home – friendly and serene
  • We have cottage crafts and a diverse artistic community along the Eastern shore, for example the old Anderson House Craft Shop & Art Gallery and the Old School Art Gallery in Musquodoboit Harbour
  • Marine Aquariums – Aquariums draw people – the most popular attraction in cities that have them
  • Be careful about overselling the Eastern Shore – It is nice here, I love it but that is personal. Sell what we have
  • The area from Spry Bay to Bickerton has a very active arts/crafts association with a board of directors who meet on a monthly basis with a mandate to promote the work of local artists. An annual bursary is awarded to a graduating student pursuing a career in the arts.
  • Islands, Ocean, Nature
  • The beaches, the islands, the history
  • Don’t forget fresh water assets, great canoeing in Tangier, no marked access!
  • Considered best tasting fish due to the Labrador off shore current

Objective # 4

The notes posted here are the stickies that were placed on each sign during the consultation.
Objective # 4

  • objective-4To develop a culture of sharing and openness with our knowledge, talents, history, vision, accomplishments, not viewing tourists as an inconvenience or nuisance
  • Pristine coastline, uninhabited island, hiking, canoeing, wilderness like you have never seen
  • Have the communities involved in the process (what is our brand?)
  • Provide funding for key buildings to be converted to B&Bs as close to island destination as possible
  • Perfect
  • Artists – Accommodations – Food – Boat tours – kayaking – birders
  • Liability Insurance for B&Bs and Boat Tours
  • Aquarium – display local flora and fauna – clean water supply for marine life
  • ”Off season” Local fisherman have the skills to transport tourist on the boats to the off shore islands – for example Murphy’s Campsite boat tours, this resource needs to be utilized as an extra source of revenue for the fishermen on their ‘ down time’ Liability insurance could be investigated
  • Engage key influencers

Objective # 5

The notes posted here are the stickies that were placed on each sign during the consultation.
Objective # 5

  • objective-5Develop purchasable tourism product that gives people access to the islands
  • Partnerships between the nature trust and communities to build an interpretive centre
  • Yes! Marine Parks Network
  • I am afraid this has limitations for winter, older folks and people with disabilities, etc. Suggest the islands are important but don’t stand alone
  • Love the brand “Road to the Isles” – Archipelago is not a known item
  • Working with school children in protecting our future environment
  • Develop historic skills: Build a log cabin, build a boat (canoe), build a stone chimney, learn to be a black smith and make tools(ancient skills/art like Vikings)
  • Keep residents aware of the steps, we don’t want any surprises, opportunities available like boating, hiking but make opportunities available to start a venture not a select few
  • Highlights of islands – history, hiking, camping, sailing, kayaking
  • Develop historic skills: Build a log cabin, build a boat (canoe), build a stone chimney, learn to be a black smith and make tools(ancient skills/art like Vikings)
  • Keep residents aware of the steps, we don’t want any surprises, opportunities available like boating, hiking but make opportunities available to start a venture not a select few
  • Highlights of islands – history, hiking, camping, sailing, kayaking

Objective # 6

The notes posted here are the stickies that were placed on each sign during the consultation.
Objective # 6

  • objective-6Cook/Boil periwinkle – escargot
  • offer wilderness survival skills courses – live in underdeveloped wood area with a guide, go for short hikes through wild woods with a machete to clear branches
  • Yes it is unique
  • Even without assistance from government the Eastern Shore could immediately enhance tourism by developing interesting “experiences” for tourists to purchase
  • Company retreats in a pristine setting, revitalize your work force with artist led workshops (lots of artists/crafts people) on Eastern Shore along with healthy recreational activities, walking at Taylor Head, kayaking the Islands
  • What are our outdoor experiences – kayaking, mussel picking, fishing, hiking, treasure hunting, pirate’s moonshine
  • Lobster dinner – lesson on how to cook and eat the fixings, mussel boil, island drop offs
  • Kids love crab fishing, parents like kids, like crab fishing
  • Change the word generate to develop
    More than just outdoor experiences are needed, need to consider seniors and people with disabilities
  • People want to experience the ocean in whatever aspect their interest lies, sometimes just to look at and touch or feel the ocean water

Objective # 7

The notes posted here are the stickies that were placed on each sign during the consultation.
Objective # 7

  • objective-7Increase employment to maintain a community
  • Increased visitation equals increased revenue which helps local businesses
  • Weight loss, health and well-being at forefront
  • Provide increased access points or service points for the residents as well as tourists – “this is my back yard”
  • Fund employees for businesses that are struggling
  • This will have to be managed during implementation – There will be resistance – demonstrate or build positive over time
  • Governments are destroying small towns/villages re: centralizing in cities needs rethinking
  • Trains or buses would help!
  • Employment opportunities, promote local businesses especially B&Bs and Motels
  • Establishing a marina in the area can only help/encourage growth in a positive way

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