Past and Present
It was the pursuit of winter tourism that led to the establishment of the Northeast Highlands Chamber of Commerce (NHCC) in 1996. An impromptu meeting held a year earlier by a small group of area business people, keen on promoting ski vacations in the area, paved the way for the creation of a networking mechanism that would address marketing in the context of many other business development issues.
Like worldwide sister organizations, the goals of the NHCC are to promote a positive business environment and improve the economic and social well being of citizens and communities. The Chamber has over 60 members who represent a significant portion of the famed Cabot Trail, which attracts over 400,000 visitors annually.
The region boasts many of the province's prized tourism assets including, the Cape Breton Highlands National Park, Keltic Lodge, Highlands Links Golf Course, and the best cross-country and alpine skiing facilities in Maritime Canada.
The industry contributes significantly to a high quality of life. The goal is to strengthen tourism in order to better solidify market position. The future focus is to make this region better known as a year round vacation destination.