Nova Scotia Tourism focuses on Celtic culture

Nova Scotia’s Department of Tourism, Culture and Heritage just released its Tourism Plan for 2010 and it includes this note about Celtic culture:

Nova Scotia is home to one of the few living Gaelic cultures outside of Scotland, setting us apart from other North American destinations. The old world has been shaped by the new on Cape Breton Island where Gaelic language, music, song, and dance are part of the cultural fabric and key to its identity, as well as an important niche for Nova Scotia’s tourism industry.

The plan notes that the Department has partnered with the Celtic Heart of North America Co-operative to play a key role in delivering this cultural experience. Currently, the Celtic Heart of North America is a cooperative representing the Highland Village, Gaelic College of Celtic Arts and Crafts, Celtic Colours International Festival, Celtic Music Interpretive Centre, Glenora Distillery, Féis an Eilein, and the municipalities of Inverness and Victoria counties.

The Department of Tourism, Culture and Heritage has highlighted Joanne MacIntyre, a Gaelic speaker and member of the interpretive team at the Highland Village Museum/An Clachan Gàidhealach, in their “Heroes” campaign. The video, produced in Gaelic with English subtitles, is a wonderful glimpse into the Celtic experience that Cape Breton offers. It is due to be released in the coming months.

The Tourism Plan also notes the following:

Value and experience are key
The focus on top-notch experiences is more important than ever. In this competitive environment, industry members must work together to creatively package experiences and develop value-added offers that will appeal to visitors.

The Celtic Heart of North America Co-operative is exactly that – industry members coming together – and we plan to creatively package our experience. We’ll have more to announce on that in the future, so please stay tuned!