April 27, 2023
For Immediate Release

St. John’s, NL – Hospitality Newfoundland & Labrador is very disappointed by Marine Atlantic Inc.’s
announcement of an increase in the fuel surcharge for customers. The new Marine Atlantic program will
increase fuel surcharge fees from 13 percent to 17 percent effective June 1, 2023, with further updates
on June 1 and December 1 of each year.

“As we’re currently working to rebuild air access to this province, this news comes at a particularly
challenging time,” said Deborah Bourden, Chair of Hospitality NL. “By decreasing the affordability of ferry
access to Newfoundland and Labrador, Marine Atlantic is deterring travelers from visiting our province
and our communities. We should be tearing down these barriers to access, not constructing new ones.
We continue to call on the federal government to decrease the requirement for a 65 percent cost
recovery mandate from Marine Atlantic.”

According to research from the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation, Marine Atlantic
saw a 60% increase in passenger movements in 2022 over 2021, with a 14% increase over pre-pandemic
seasons.

“We recognize how valuable Marine Atlantic is to Newfoundland & Labrador’s tourism industry,” said
Craig Foley, CEO of Hospitality NL. “But as our tourism industry rebuilds, any impediment to visitors
affects our industry in the immediate and long-term.”

Thursday’s announcement came during National Tourism Week, a week-long celebration of the vital
contribution tourism makes to the economic and cultural well-being of our country, province, and
communities.

Celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2023, Hospitality Newfoundland & Labrador is the provincial tourism
association, representing tourism interests, taking action on behalf of tourism businesses, and fostering
positive messages to help the industry grow and prosper.

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Media Contact:
Anna Kean
Director, Advocacy, Research, and Communications
Hospitality NL
709-722-2000 ext. 231
akean@hnl.ca