FREDERICTON – New Brunswick’s tourism minister says the latest financial figures show that the province is no longer a “drive-through” province.

Paul Robichaud said Wednesday preliminary figures show tourism revenues this year hit $985 million, an increase of more than 9 percent over last year.

The number of visitors increased by 6 percent over last year to 1.5 million people.

Robichaud credited the department’s advertising and tourism strategy for the increase. He said the biggest increase was among people arriving by car.