N.S. luxury resort hopeful of tourism bump amid trade war tensions

The ongoing trade war between Canada and the United States, coupled with a weak Canadian dollar, is expected to have a positive impact on the tourism industry in Nova Scotia this year. Kevin Toth, the president of Fox Harb’r Resort in Cumberland County, believes that the resort is well-positioned to capitalize on the shifting travel trends.

Toth mentioned that some Canadian guests have already opted to cancel their trips to the U.S. and are choosing to vacation domestically instead. This shift in consumer behavior is encouraging for the resort, as it indicates a potential increase in Canadian tourism. Despite this, Fox Harb’r Resort is also keen on attracting U.S. travelers due to the strength of the American dollar relative to the Canadian dollar.

While it’s still uncertain how much U.S. traffic the resort will receive this season, Toth anticipates an overall increase of about five percent in tourism numbers. This growth would allow the resort to surpass its pre-pandemic levels and have a successful season.

Tourism Nova Scotia is also gearing up to leverage the growing trend of staycations by launching a domestic marketing campaign to entice Canadians to visit the province. With Canadians traditionally making up the majority of visitors to Nova Scotia, the agency sees an opportunity to capitalize on the current sentiment around vacationing closer to home.

In a similar vein, the Digby Area Tourism Association recently reassured U.S. visitors that they are still welcome in the area despite the ongoing tensions between the two countries. The association highlighted the special relationship and historical ties between Canada and the United States, emphasizing that visitors will always be welcomed with East Coast hospitality.

At Fox Harb’r Resort, staff recruitment has been a challenge post-COVID-19, but the resort has managed to adequately staff up for the upcoming season. Investments to revitalize the resort have also been made to ensure it is well-prepared to accommodate an increased number of visitors.

Toth believes that the trend of supporting local businesses will continue among Canadians, regardless of the outcome of the trade war. This sentiment is likely to be ingrained for a while, with individuals opting to invest in local travel experiences rather than venturing south of the border.Overall, the tourism industry in Nova Scotia is set to benefit from the changing travel landscape, with both domestic and international visitors expected to flock to the region for a memorable vacation experience.