Tourism Nova Scotia is tasked with doubling tourism by 2024

With the passing of the budget, the new agency that will oversee tourism efforts in the province has become official.

Tourism Nova Scotia will be responsible forreversingslumping visitor numbersfrom the U.S.

Over the last 10 years, the number of tourists coming to Nova Scotia hasdecreased by 9 per cent.

TheIvanyReport says tourism needs to double over the next 10 years to help inject $4 billion into the economy.

Pat Sullivan will be the CEO of Tourism Nova Scotia. Hesays because of the strong U.S. dollar, this will help bring back some of the 300,000 Americans who used to visit the province each year.

At present, about 170,000 Americans visit the province each year. Sullivan says that number can only increase.

The provincesays the focus will be on increasing the number of visitors from western Canada, Germany and New England.

Tourism Nova Scotia'sbudget for this year will be$23 million. Alargechunk of that money will be devoted to social media marketing, such as Instagram.

Instagramwould allowprospective tourists from other parts of the world to see pictures of Nova Scotia's landscapes.

"I heard about [Nova Scotia] in Switzerland, that it would be a nice place," saidSwiss tourist Walter Kach at the Halifax waterfront. "We don't have the sea in Switzerland, so it's a good option for us to have the Atlantic."

Focusing on food and drink

Sullivan says while iconic destinations like Louisbourg or Peggys Cove will continue to attract visitors, there will be a focus on the varieties of food and drink in Nova Scotia.

The province is launching something called theGood Cheer Trail on June 1.According to its website, there will be businesses from across the province participating in the chart-your-own-routetrail of tours, tastings and events.

Sullivan says close to 40wineries, distilleries and craft breweries from across the province will allow people to "explore the great food we have and the great liquids that go along with the food as well."

Sullivan says that while tourists from other countries are important, Nova Scotians spend almost $800 million a year travelling within their home province, representing about 40 per cent of the tourism pie.