Investment fuels leadership, innovation in tourism
From breathtaking landscapes, diverse and inclusive experiences and friendly people from coast to coast, it’s easy to see why Newfoundland and Labrador is a worldclass tourism destination.
With this in mind, the government of Canada is investing in Grenfell Campus, Memorial University to foster innovation and leadership skills in the growing tourism industry.
Gudie Hutchings, minister of Rural Economic Development and Minister responsible for Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) recently announced a non-repayable contribution of $100,000 to Memorial University of Grenfell Campus through the Regional Economic Growth through Innovation (REGI) program. The Newfoundland government will provide $32,500 in non-repayable funding from the Regional Development Program for the project.
This investment will assess the feasibility of new programming in strategic tourism leadership. The goal is to develop a professional program that fosters innovation and equips participants with the skills and experience necessary to excel in leadership positions within the tourism industry.
“As educational leaders, we’re excited by this opportunity to explore the development of programming to meet the needs of the tourism sector – a sector central to our social, cultural and economic prosperity as a region and a province,” said Dr. Ian Sutherland, vice-president of the Grenfell campus, in a news release.
“Grenfell Campus, Memorial University is the perfect place for this with our strengths in tourism, business, entrepreneurship, a focus on sustainable rural communities and so much more. This investment will help us chart a path towards cutting edge programming, ground-breaking thinking, meaningful learning and training opportunities for the future of the tourism sector.”
Hutchings added, “The tourism industry in Newfoundland and Labrador is growing. It employs more than 20,000 Newfoundlanders and Labradorians and contributes $1.4 billion to our economy every single year. This investment will equip more people with the skills they need to help tourism operators take advantage of the industry’s potential to benefit our province.”