ALBERTON
As the operator of a small tourism business, Jeannita Bernard says she has recommended to her guests places to visit in western P.E.I. “They come back and they say, ‘We didn’t know; it’s beautiful out here. ‘”
Bernard, who recently took on the chairwoman’s role of a strategic development working group for the North Cape Coastal Tourism Area Partnership, says she sees many opportunities for tourism growth in the region.
“I think we have a lot more potential than what we’ve seen. I really believe that,” she said following a funding announcement Friday. The federal and provincial governments are providing the NCCTAP with $157,500 in funding to support two initiatives including the development of a regional tourism plan.
“With experiential tourism, people want coastal experiences. Well, look at our coasts,” Bernard said in suggesting an area where there’s more potential to be met.
The tourism plan is utilizing the Strategic Tourism for Areas and Regions (STAR) program which focuses on strategic planning for tourism shareholders, experiential product development and building capacity for tourism growth.
“It’s a collaborative thing,” Bernard said of the approach being taken.
Part of it, she said, is for tourism operators in the region to learn from and about other operators in the region. In just two meetings so far, she said she has already learned much.
The end goal, she said, is to increase visitation. “It’s just standing on our own and making western P.E.I. and North Cape Coastal Drive a tourism destination, much more than it is now.”
The STAR initiative is receiving $52,500 from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency though its Innovative Communities Fund and $15,000 from the Provincial Government.
ACOA, through its Business Development Program and the provincial government are contributing $53,000 and $37,000 respectively for a second NCCTAP initiative announced Friday, a cooperative marketing program for a Fall Flavours signature event, Oysters on the Pier, aimed at professional development for stakeholders and shoulder season tourism growth.
“These new initiatives will go a long way to supporting growth in the industry with a focus on building memorable and authentic experiences for visitors,” said Egmont MP Bobby Morrissey.
“I think we still have a lot of potential for creative experiences,” Bernard offered. “People want experiences People want to discover newness. They want to know what there is out there.”
NCCTAP president Stanley MacDonald, said Western P.E.I. led the way in tourist traffic gains this year, suggesting that is an example of the continued tourism development work that’s going on in the region. He said the strategic plan will help advance the progress.
