The Cat ferry wraps up its 2016 season Saturday.
For both proponents and critics of the Yarmouth to Portland service, it’s all about numbers.
While Bay Ferries hasn’t yet released the final tally, Mayor Pam Mood says the latest figures, released on September 13, are impressive.
Based on weekly daily averages, the Cat Ferry carried around 30,982 passengers between June 15 and Sept. 11.
“I’m absolutely pleased with the ferry service this season. I understand people throw numbers out there, you know, have they met the numbers, those type of things. But frankly thirty thousand or more visitors to the province…oh my goodness, that’s off the charts in my books.”
The final numbers will most certainly be below what both Bay Ferries and the Nova Scotia government had set for a season-end target of approximately 60,000.
Yarmouth MLA Zach Churchill says the province is having the best tourism season on record.
“Yarmouth and Acadian Shores are leading the province in room bookings and that is a direct result of having in this critical service back in our community connecting us with one of the biggest markets in the world. even though the numbers aren’t what everybody hoped they’d be, this is a rebuilding year. You can just feel the positivity in town and surrounding areas.”