Tourism manager fund slowly building

President Allan Nelson says they started visiting municipalities in December 2006 seeking funding for a full time tourism manager.

The manager’s duties would include focusing on product development, the creation of a long-term destination development plan, research and analysis and coordinating various tourism projects.

“Some we never got an answer from. Some we got a no from,” said Nelson of their proposal to councils.

The total annual cost of a tourism manager will be close to $50,000, with proposed funding coming from the five municipalities in the county as well as federal and provincial levels of government.

The Municipality of Barrington thought the proposal a great idea and have approved $15,000 annually.

Up until recently they were the lone supporter. However the tide is changing. At their last meeting, the Town of Lockeport approved a motion to provide $2,000 a year over five years.

Still required for the proposed budget is: $15,000 from the Municipality of Shelburne, $10,000 from the Town of Shelburne and $5,000 from the Town of Clark’s Harbour.

“It’s been a challenge with the other units,” said Nelson.

“If the Municipality of Shelburne comes on board we still need the Town of Shelburne.

“We need the three big units to help fund this. We are also looking for funding from outside sources,” said Nelson.

The association would like to have the tourism manager start work this fall.

“You can’t come in, in June and expect things to happen the same summer. People are making plans in the wintertime and early spring to travel and we need to get Shelburne County’s name out there. There are people in Nova Scotia that have no idea what is down at this end of the province,” said Nelson.