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Atlantic Canada UNESCO Tourism Corridor

 

 

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Tourism Corridor Strategy Program

Atlantic Canada UNESCO Tourism Corridor

Overview and updates

"Linking 13 UNESCO-designated sites across Atlantic Canada, this Corridor connects heritage, culture, and coastal landscapes into a unified, multi-stop journey." 

 

The Atlantic Canada UNESCO Tourism Corridor connects 13 UNESCO-designated sites, including Biosphere Regions, Global Geoparks, and World Heritage Sites, across Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland and Labrador. These globally significant natural and cultural landmarks anchor a shared effort to grow regenerative tourism, strengthen community collaboration, and position Atlantic Canada as a leading sustainable travel destination. 

 

The Corridor encompasses 13 UNESCO-designated sites and their surrounding communities, spanning Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland and Labrador.

Corridor approach

The Tourism Corridor Strategy Program (TCSP) helps communities, provinces and territories plan and grow resilient, inclusive and regenerative tourism economies from coast to coast to coast. In support of the Strategy, the goal for the Tourism Corridors is to bring people, places and industries together to strengthen local wellbeing and accelerate sustainable destination development.

Atlantic Canada UNESCO corridor objectives

  • Enhance capacity & resilience: Strengthen the ability of UNESCO sites to manage tourism, protect natural and cultural values, and succeed long-term.

  • Foster community collaboration: Build cooperative relationships among sites, Indigenous partners, businesses, and communities. 

  • Extend seasonal visitation: Increase travel during shoulder and off-peak seasons in line with community readiness and site capacity.  

  • Elevate visitor value: Attract guests who contribute meaningfully in economic, social, and cultural ways. 

  • Enrich storytelling & experiences: Create cohesive, immersive narratives that reflect the essence of each site and UNESCO’s mission with integration of Indigenous worldviews, languages, and governance (e.g. Etuaptmumk or Two-Eyed Seeing).

  • Advance local wealth & wellbeing: Ensure tourism supports economic vitality, cultural vibrancy, and environmental sustainability. 

Key attractions and experiences

Participating partners

  • Provincial tourism organizations of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland and Labrador
  • Canadian Commission for UNESCO
  • Parks Canada
  • Regional Indigenous tourism associations
  • 13 UNESCO site partners
  • Local communities and businesses in and around each UNESCO site

Media coverage 

In 2024, two successful media familiarization (FAM) tours hosted 13 international media representatives from Australia, China, Germany, Japan, Mexico, and South Korea. Coverage from these tours, including features in National Geographic, is amplifying international awareness of the Corridor.

Investment opportunity in the corridor

The Atlantic Canada UNESCO Tourism Corridor is a platform for place-based investment in culture, conservation, and economic revitalization. With a clear 10-year roadmap, it offers scalable opportunities for public and private investors. 

 

Potential investment opportunities in this corridor include:

Infrastructure & Experience Development (short term)

  • Address gaps in dining, lodging, transportation, and visitor services in gateway communities.
  • Launch revenue-generating, regenerative tourism products that align with each site’s unique attributes. 
     

Immersive Interpretation & Legacy Projects (long term)

  • Build or upgrade facilities that provide year-round learning, access, and immersive visitor engagement.

 

Current Investment in the Corridor 

Several initiatives are already underway or planned:

  • Regenerative tourism strategies in progress across all 13 sites
  • Development of investment readiness action plans
  • New cross-site collaborations   
See All Investment Opportunities

Get involved

Community members, interested investors, rights holders, stakeholders and partners can reach out to the Atlantic Canada UNESCO Tourism Corridor planning team here:

Erica D'Souza
Senior Director, Destination Development
Destination Canada
dsouza.erica@destinationcanada.com

Zoe Compton
Programme Officer, Natural Sciences
Canadian Commission for UNESCO
Zoe.Compton@ccunesco.ca

Jennifer Dingman
Executive Director
Fundy Biosphere Region & Stonehammer UNESCO Global Geopark
Executive.Director@fundy-biosphere.com

Links

Strategy: Atlantic Canada Tourism Corridor Strategy Summary 

 

Insights:  Access the Tourism Data Collective for national and regional insights, including market profiles, current tourism assets and capacity, and forecasting.  

 

Investment Readiness:  Find a project to invest in , or download tools to help your region attract and manage investment.

 

Destination Development Toolkits: Practical guides for communities building their first tourism plan.