Submitted by Jeff Ransome
Vision:
Nova Scotia has, through huge marketing campaigns and the development of many tourism services, developed a great reputation as a clean, and well preserved environmentally friendly destination. We look no further than the provincial advertising campaigns to see the vision I would see adopted throughout the province. At the same time I support industry and development. BUT and this is a critical component- I support these two needs equally and without expense to each other. Our province owns several resorts that already require our tourists to drive by clear cropped forests and reflects poorly on our image.
Preserve our forests and develop plans that allow for industry growth while protecting our future in the tourism industry.
Strengths:
Forests and parks capture the imagination and create the reputation that brings thousands of visitors every year to Nova Scotia. The protection of this magnificent beauty also draws people to visit smaller communities and provides the lifeblood of tourism dollars into these markets. Providing and maintaining this natural wonder is integral to the success of the small communities that connect our culture.
In the end the strategy should consider the industry needs but insist that tourism optics are protected from any sights which would detract from experiences. Also a repleneshment plan by each industry should be a part of the approval process.