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2.0 Situation Context 2.1 TRENDS Parks Canada and the Family of National Historic Sites Parks Canada's mission is to ensure that Canada's national parks, national historic sites and related heritage areas are protected and presented for this and future generations. These nationally significant examples of Canada's natural and cultural heritage reflect Canada's values, identity and pride. They are part of the inheritance of all Canadians. National historic sites represent a true national partnership in the preservation of Canada's heritage. Across the country, 836 national historic sites have been designated by the Ministers responsible for Parks Canada but only 132 of them are administered or operated by Parks Canada (as of 1998). The others are owned by other levels of government, corporations and individuals. This partnership, which is often informal rather than formal, is symbolized by the term "Family of National Historic Sites." Parks Canada is committed to working with the other members of the family, promoting the application of the principles in the Cultural Resource Management Policy, and public awareness and understanding of all national historic sites. Fortress of Louisbourg staff are taking steps to do this with respect to the other national historic sites in Nova Scotia, such as Grassy Island, and with other sites that represent the same timeframe and themes. Economic Situation The recession period of the late 1980s and early 1990s dramatically affected the Canadian economy. Atlantic Canada has been slow to recover from this period and the downturn in the fishing industry has further affected the economy putting thousands out of work and forcing many communities to look for alternatives to traditional employment opportunities. Tourism is seen as an alternative career and employment opportunity but a significant amount of community development including training and infrastructure is required. Louisbourg is a good example of a community in transition from one based primarily on the fishery to one that is more varied in nature. It is expected that tourism will be a strong factor in the local economy in the future. Various government agencies in cooperation with the private sector are helping the community to develop sustainable tourism-related enterprises to revitalize the economy. This is being accomplished through funding, training, and various forms of assistance. The voluntary and private sectors will need to continue to play a strong role in this effort. Tourism During the late 1980s and early 1990s, tourism in Atlantic Canada was in a slight decline. Since 1992 however, tourism has increased with significant gains in 1998. The number of visitors and their geographic origins include: To Nova Scotia:
To The Fortress of Louisbourg (paid visitors):
Most visitors to Cape Breton, like those to much of Atlantic Canada, are interested in the coastal scenery, the culture and history, and many are visiting friends and relatives. The national park and national historic sites are the primary attractions on Cape Breton Island with approximately one-half of visitors to Cape Breton visiting the Fortress of Louisbourg [MAP 3].
Marketing Strategies There has been an increased emphasis on partnerships, particularly in the area of marketing. The newly formed Canadian Tourism Commission will see the consolidation of federal, provincial, and private sector funding for the marketing of Canada's tourism products and services. Over the past two years, the Atlantic Canada Tourism Partners, a combination of public and private sector groups has initiated several co-operative actions in support of Atlantic Canada's tourism attractions. The Fortress of Louisbourg is one of six components of Parks Canada's Cape Breton Island Regional Marketing Strategy. Cooperation between the parks and sites will continue to provide increased marketing and promotional opportunities. In addition, co-operation is undertaken with various external agencies such as Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation (ecbc). This approach is expected to continue. Heritage Tourism The market for heritage tourism is expanding rapidly. The Department of Canadian Heritage launched the Heritage Tourism Initiative to assist in tapping emerging trends in global tourism and to improve Canada's position in the international tourism market. The Heritage Tourism strategy includes national and regional actions aimed at enhancement of the tourism industry, stakeholder awareness and cooperative activities which will optimize Departmental economic and social contributions. In addition, the strategy aims to enhance traveller awareness and interest in heritage tourism experiences, opportunities and services. Heritage tourism markets are considered potential growth areas for Fortress of Louisbourg. Information Technology The extraordinary development of technology is influencing the way the tourism industry carries out its business and how consumers plan and purchase trips. The travel trade must contend with meeting the demands of an increasingly informed and experienced clientele. The range of technology offers the travel trade and consumers an array of services including general information on destinations, travel packages and services, and calendars of events and attractions. The Department of Canadian Heritage, through Parks Canada and the Heritage Tourism Initiative is exploring ways to provide information to a broader range of travel influencers and consumers including the Internet, cd-rom, and virtual reality products. The Fortress of Louisbourg has placed information about the Site, its history and attractions on the Internet. In addition, staff are exploring the potential of virtual reality products. Fortress Louisbourg is information and visually rich. It is well-positioned to take advantage of the new and emerging technologies. Municipal Political Context As of 1995,
Fortress of Louisbourg is located within the Regional Municipality of Cape
Breton. This has occurred as a result of restructuring of municipal government on
Cape Breton Island. |
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