NEWS:Tourism group disappointed with lack of summer grants

The Western Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) is disappointed with the lack of student summer grants awarded to tourism-related businesses and organizations in the province.
Maria Matthews, chair of the DMO, said the program is intended to provide meaningful career-related summer employment for students. She said successful applicants were notified recently and an overwhelming number of organizations which normally receive funding were notably absent from the list.

Matthews said tourism-related businesses and organizations should fit within the program’s objectives, which include creating positions for youth in rural areas and creating positions which would otherwise not be possible.

As an organization dedicated to marketing western Newfoundland and southern Labrador as a premiere tourism destination, the DMO recognizes that summer student employment is an integral part of the tourism industry in the region. “The west coast is a remarkable place to visit with its mixture of culture, heritage and scenic beauty,” said Matthews. “I fear that the lack of student employment will result in the closure of a number of key attractions throughout our region, particularly in rural areas. “This will translate into lost revenue for operators, decreased visitation numbers and will leave tourists feeling frustrated and extremely disappointed with their tourism experience.”
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