The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Andrea Barbour, Minister of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation:

Speaker, the 2025 tourism season is something to be celebrated!

With over $1.4 billion in total revenue, tourism is a major industry in our province, supporting jobs, local businesses, and important public sectors.

In 2025, there was a four per cent increase in total air and auto visitors to the province, compared to 2024.

We also had an exceptional cruise season welcoming nearly 100,000 passengers.

Additionally, visitation, revenue and occupancy of provincial parks reached all-time highs in 2025, continuing steady growth since 2022.

And spring and fall visitation continues to grow helping us further achieve the goal of extending the peak tourism season and becoming a year-round destination.

Speaker, none of this would be possible without our stakeholders and operators. They celebrate our identity, preserve our culture, and share our story with the world.

Together, we’re building a province where people don’t just come from, they come to.

A strong visitor economy strengthens our province’s reputation as a great place to live, work, visit and invest, while generating a solid tax base and supporting communities.

Our new government will make Newfoundland and Labrador the tourism capital of Canada, and we are well on our way!

Thank you.