Latest news with #DiscoverHalifax
CTV News
17-06-2025
- CTV News
Canada Strong Pass opens doors to Halifax landmarks youth
Explore museums, galleries, historic landmarks, and more this summer with The Canada Strong Pass. Some of Halifax's most iconic landmarks are now more accessible to youth thanks to the newly launched Canada Strong Pass, which offers free or discounted admission to national sites and travel options across the country this summer. From June 20 until Sept. 2, Canadians aged 17 and under can enjoy free admission to places like the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic and the Canadian Museum of Immigration. 'We're expecting a lot of first-time visitors in Halifax this summer and they usually want to come and see our signature tourism attractions, things like the museum of tourism,' said Sarah Reeves, a spokesperson for Discover Halifax. People aged 18 to 24 receive up to 50 per cent off admission at select museums and discounted travel on VIA Rail. No registration or physical pass is required. 'We know that Canadians are travelling domestically this year and they're feeling a little more patriotic so anything that removes a barrier to access our historic sites is great news,' said Reeves. The initiative includes access to national parks across the Maritimes, such as the Fundy National Park in New Brunswick, which offers hiking trails, waterfalls and views of the world's highest tides. The Canada Strong Pass is part of a federal initiative to promote travel, storytelling and cultural connection among youth. View Georges Island is viewed from the Second World War deck at Pier 21 during the inauguration of the Canadian Museum of Immigration in Halifax on Monday, Feb. 7, 2011. (Andrew Vaughan) For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
CTV News
03-06-2025
- Business
- CTV News
‘I love it here', Tourists flocking back to Halifax in record numbers
The Harbour Queen is seen in the Halifax Harbour. (CTV Atlantic/Jonathan MacInnis) The Harbour Queen pulls away from the dock, bringing another group of tourists on a cruise around the historic Halifax Harbour. 'Total visitation or stays in hotel rooms is up 2.6 per cent last year. That's on top of the growth that we've had for previous years,' says the president and CEO of Discover Halifax, Ross Jefferson. 'It's really encouraging. We've been on a long trend of upward movement for almost a decade now. Last year, representing the height and the apex so far.' That's an all-time high of 1.6 million night stays booked according to Jefferson. I love it here, everyone's so nice,' says Cape Cod resident Penny Vincent. Growth is being seen across the board from business travel and conventions to individual leisure travel and cruise ships. 'I never came along the Seaport and this is absolutely gorgeous. I went to Peggy's Cove years ago,' Pennsylvania resident Linda Rodak says. 'We have the most visited area in Nova Scotia on the Halifax waterfront,' adds Patrick Sullivan, the president and CEO of the Halifax Chamber of Commerce. Province-wide spending also hit record levels, bringing in $3.5 billion dollars. 'We saw a significant increase in air travel last year rather than road travel so air travel folks are great, they come and rent a car and stay in hotels and eat meals and we should prepare for more visitors in Nova Scotia,' Sullivan says. As more people come to Halifax, Jefferson does have some concerns about the city's ability to keep up with the growth. 'We simply can't build enough hotel rooms fast enough, so having the supplier of hotel rooms will be a little bit of a limiting factor,' Jefferson says. That's something that will need to be addressed if Halifax hopes to continue to be a destination for people from across Canada and around the world. As good as the tourism numbers are right now, Jefferson is expecting huge things for next year with several large events planned. Announcements on what those events are should be coming out in the next few weeks. Halifax Harbour The Harbour Queen is seen in the Halifax Harbour. (CTV Atlantic/Jonathan MacInnis) For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
