Tourism money goes to Gateway Labrador

Labrador City is taking the money it earmarked for the local tourism corporation and giving it to Gateway Labrador.

In the June 30 council meeting, Coun. Peter Reccord, chair of the finance and administration committee, recommended council give the $4,500 grant budgeted for tourism promotion to Gateway Labrador since the interpretation centre had replaced the Labrador West Tourism Corporation as the designated Visitor Information Centre for the region.

In a separate interview with the Aurora last week, Lab. City mayor Graham Letto said the Labrador West Tourism Corporation no longer exists, and Gateway Labrador is playing an important tourism role in the community, so the donation makes sense.

"Gateway Labrador is a gateway not only to Labrador, but it's a gateway to the province," he said. "Few people realize that - not even the Newfoundland and Labrador government - but when tourists come in it is usually their first stop to get information and they're playing the role of a tourism kiosk, which was part of the role of the Labrador West Tourism Corporation."

Mr. Letto thinks it was reasonable for the Gateway to request the funding - he said they're strapped for cash and don't have a lot of resources - and council believes the community will reap the benefits from the donation through the tourism industry.

He stressed the money has to be used for tourism objectives - it can't go into the operating pot of Gateway Labrador - and he thinks the board of directors of the facility will put the funding to good use.