The start of something big?

The Port Readiness Study recently completed by Mariport offers an analysis of what needs to be done to ensure this can happen, said Gushue.

He notes that the proposition has the potential to put money in the pockets of local businesses and invited people in Digby and Annapolis counties to ask themselves, “What’s in it for me?”

Gushue said both port security and customs clearance will need to exist in Digby if the town is to become a destination or stopover point for vessels from the U.S. and other countries. A security plan needs to be approved by Transport Canada and a team from Transport Canada will be in town from Aug. 25—29.

Making a case for customs clearance may be a challenge, since full cost recovery is a pre-requisite. The Mariport study proposes establishing customs clearance on a part-time seasonal basis, with the customs officer working in conjunction with Digby airport.

The money, of course, begins to flow the moment passengers depart their vessels. In the case of the Balmoral, local whale watching boats will ferry people ashore. The tenders for this arrival have already been identified; Fred Olsen Cruise Lines, owner of the Balmoral, required this before they would commit to coming to Digby.

Those who can benefit from the arrival of passenger ships and pleasure boats include tender operators, restaurants, retailers, museums, galleries, wineries, artists, crafts people and golf courses--in addition to entrepreneurs offering whale watching, bird watching, experiential and eco tourism packages.

Germans are particularly interested in adventure tourism, said Gushue; language will be a consideration when developing tourism packages for this market.

To move ahead with the process, said Gushue, it would be necessary to form a cruise committee.

Those who volunteered to join that committee included Ian Barnes, Mike Bartlett, Ann Goddard, Vicki Graham, Sherman Haynes, Reg Hazelton, Dean Kenley, Eric Shields, Jeff Sunderland, Victoria Wilson and Christopher Wright.