Why does everything close after Labour Day?

Kings County – in fact, all of Nova Scotia – is well-known as a tourist destination. That’s probably justified. Our area in particular, and our province in general, has lots to see and do and lots to recommend it to tourists from outside our borders.

There’s one thing, though, we don’t understand. With all that we have to offer, why is so much of it offered only between June and September?

A look at the provincial tourist guide will reveal any number of special attractions and events, not to mention a host of hotels, inns, bed and breakfasts and other accommodations. The sky’s the limit really, except that most of the special events are held during the summer months and many of the attractions are open only through the summer.

It’s not as if our province rolls up the sidewalks, so to speak, on Labour Day or shortly after, but although a lot of the accommodations are open year-round, much of the reason for coming and staying remains strictly seasonal.

One might argue that the rationale for holding special events in the summer is that’s when the weather is best and when the majority of people travel, especially those with school-aged children.

That’s true, and difficult to argue with, but at the same time we have beautiful fall weather in Nova Scotia. September is arguably our most beautiful month and autumn the time of year when our province is arguably at its finest.

In addition, as our population continues to age, there are more and more retirees, young retirees and semi-retirees – people in their fifties, early sixties and even older – who prefer to do their traveling when it isn’t as hot or as congested.

Some effort is being made to extend the tourist season more into the ‘shoulder seasons’ in early autumn and late spring (which is often just as nice as autumn) – the Celtic Colours festival in Cape Breton is a good example – but until we find a way to keep more of our seasonal attractions open a little longer, it defeats the purpose.

There are many reasons why tourism is in a slump in Nova Scotia: the economy, the price of fuel and a reluctance by Americans to travel since the events of 9/11 have all had a real impact.

The bottom line, though, is there are still plenty of tourists interested in coming here, and outside of doing a better job of promoting our province as a tourist destination, which is always possible, we can’t think of anything that would bring more tourists – and their money – to Nova Scotia than simply staying open longer.