The Honourable Dr. Andrew Furey, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, will lead a tourism mission to London, United Kingdom, today (January 31) to celebrate and promote the direct air route from St. John’s to London, which begins this spring.

Premier Furey will be joined by the Honourable Steve Crocker, Minister of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation, as well as a delegation of tourism and transportation partners from the province, including Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador, Destination St. John’s and the St. John’s International Airport Authority.

While in London, the Premier and Minister Crocker will officially open the Newfoundland and Labrador booth at the Destinations Holiday and Travel Show at Olympia Stadium with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The Premier and Minister will also address guests at two receptions with tourism and hospitality stakeholders and have arranged meetings with key U.K. travel trade operators.

The goal of the mission is to promote Newfoundland and Labrador as a one-of-a-kind, authentic tourism destination and a key market for travellers from the U.K. The Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation’s travel trade and travel media team and partners have been cultivating strong ties with key operators in the U.K. for several years and the affinity for Newfoundland and Labrador among European travel planners and their clientele is strong. The reestablishment of a direct route to London will serve as a catalyst to develop these connections and to encourage direct travel to Newfoundland and Labrador.

Quotes
“Newfoundland and Labrador is a unique and authentic tourism destination. We have what the modern-day tourist is looking for – adventure in nature, a dynamic and exciting food and beverage scene, and music and art galore. The direct flight from St. John’s to London opens a world of potential for our tourism and hospitality industry and we will explore those avenues with boots on the ground in London.”
Honourable Dr. Andrew Furey
Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador

“Now that we have secured the route, the work begins to ensure it is successful. With this mission, we aim to show key tourism and trade stakeholders in the U.K. what a gem of a location Newfoundland and Labrador really is. And we’re just a short five-hour flight away. I look forward to promoting our province on the other side of the pond.”
Honourable Steve Crocker
Minister of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation

“The significance of increased air access for the tourism industry cannot be overstated! Hospitality NL and its members are very excited by the new opportunities the reestablished connection to the U.K. presents for the province and acknowledge the importance of promoting this new route and Newfoundland and Labrador as a destination. As an industry, we look forward to welcoming guests from Europe and providing the authentic, quality experiences for which we are known.”
Deborah Bourden
Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador

“Destination St. John’s is excited to be in the U.K. market, promoting St. John’s to the leisure, business events and incentive travel markets. With WestJet’s recent U.K. route announcement, YYT – Gatwick, St. John’s becomes an easily accessible and attractive destination for all travellers from the U.K. and further abroad. We are ‘Closer Than You Think.’”
Cathy Duke
Destination St. John’s

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Learn more
Provincial Government Celebrates First Direct Route to Europe Since 2019

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