It looks like the Yarmouth Ferry will have a banner year.
According to Transportation Minister Lloyd Hines, Bay Ferries sold 80% of last year’s ticket totals by the end of June.
Hines is pleased with the news but says the ferry’s purpose is not necessarily to make money.
“It’s a structure the same as any other highway would be. It’s not necessarily a profit centre per se, but it reflects the fact of who we are in Nova Scotia. In the overall picture, I think to us as to where we’re going.”
He calls the ferry an economic driver for the tourist industry.
“Certainly from my own perspective as a former tourism operator in another life, the Yarmouth ferry delivered customers to me and my accommodation. There’s no doubt that this is a piece of infrastructure that is important to the economic development of Nova Scotia.”
Hines says while he doesn’t have any hard numbers, those stats are a very good indication of how the passenger counts are trending.
