All Terrain Vehicles provide huge tourism opportunities in the province.

That’s according to President of Avalon T’Railways, Rick Noseworthy.

Last year, the city of Corner Brook opened some city streets to ATV use and Mayor Jim Parsons says hotels are already reporting more bookings as a result of increased ATV tourism.

Noseworthy calls ATV users the “silent tourists.” He says many people don’t notice them because they’re on the trail, but they estimate some 1500 to 2000 ATV operators drive across the island on the T’Railway system each year.

Noseworthy is already aware of some of the benefits pointing to huge potential in the emerging tourism opportunity.

“There’s a guy in North Sydney”, says Noseworthy, who rents spaces to ATV users who park their vehicles before boarding the ferry to Newfoundland. He told Noseworthy he’s rented as many as 700 spaces a year to people coming over on the ferry.

Noseworthy says Corner Brook is not alone in recognizing that potential and more municipalities are coming on board.