Local attractions named best tourism sites for 2009

Three local tourism sites will receive a bit more exposure in 2009 after being recognized by the province as prime attractions.
Sackville's Waterfowl Park, Fort Beausejour and Cape Jourimain were recently named among the best tourist attractions in New Brunswick.
The locations were chosen under the 2009 attraction classification program and were announced last month by New Brunswick Minister Stuart Jamieson.
"These classifications provide important information to our visitors, and they help to ensure that our visitors will be exposed to some of our most interesting experiences that can only be found in New Brunswick," he said.
All three local sites were selected under the list of 55 'Best Of' attractions while Cape Jourimain was also chosen as one of 10 'Experts Choice' sites.
'Best Of' attractions are said to provide a diverse and high-calibre visitor experience in each of the designated scenic drives in the province. Attractions chosen for the 'Experts' Choice' classification are considered unique and authentic to New Brunswick and are selected by a panel of nationally-recognized tourism experts.
"The board and I were really happy when we heard that we were selected," said Sabine Dietz, executive director of Cape Jourimain Nature Centre.
Dietz explains that essentially the sites are judged based on the "quality of the (visitors') experience" and believes that's why Cape Jourimain received the designation this year.
"I think they were really impressed with how we're incorporating environmentally-conscious choices into our operations," she said. "We take a comprehensive approach . . ."
Dietz sees the nature centre as not only a tourism site, but also as an educational facility offering diverse school-based programs that focuses on Cape Jourimain's 'green' lifestyle.
Cape Jourimain promotes the use of energy-efficient technology and offers tours highlighting its own use of initiatives such as composting toilets, geothermal heat pumps, efficient use of water and the creation of solar heat.
The on-site restaurant also offers locally-produced fare while more emphasis has also been placed on the sale of local craft items.
Dietz is hopeful the designation will provide the nature centre with "a bit more profile and more exposure" through provincially-based marketing campaigns.
Sackville's Mayor Pat Estabrooks said she's thrilled the town's waterfowl park was recognized for its unique qualities.
"It's a wonderful site. It has all the things you need to bring people in," she says.
Estabrooks points out that kids and adults alike enjoy the natural surroundings as they venture along the boardwalk, checking out the wide variety of bird and waterfowl species in the park.
"It's definitely a drawing card; it brings people into our town."
The Department of Tourism and Parks introduced the attraction classification program in 2007 to highlight New Brunswick's attractions and to increase the awareness of the richness and diversity of visitors' experiences across the province.