New entrepreneurs respond to growing tourism demand

Creating jobs for Islanders -

Country Lane Bed and Breakfast is one of more than 200 new tourism accommodations licensed this year in the province, and owners Michel and Doris Cavallin couldn’t be happier with the trend.
 
Four times the accommodation licenses have been issued so far in 2017 than during the same period last year, which is due partly to more homeowners renting their properties to vacationers through Airbnb, VRBO, and similar online services. The Cavallins see incredible opportunities in the Island tourism industry for their new Cornwall business.
 
“We’ve always wanted to open a bed and breakfast, and given the continued strength of the industry on Prince Edward Island it was an easy decision to open in Cornwall,” Michel Cavallin said. “After 10-plus years of visiting and vacationing on the Island we knew it was the perfect place for us to retire and start this new phase of our lives,” Doris Cavallin added.
 
Early season Tourism Statistics released by the province this week show an increase in several major categories through May compared to the same period last year. In addition to the rise in licensed accommodations, there was a 4.6 per cent increase in overnight stays, a 3.4 per cent increase in non-resident bridge traffic, and a 3.8 per cent increase in room nights sold.
 
Passenger traffic at the Charlottetown Airport dipped slightly with a 0.5 per cent decrease, non-member rounds at local golf courses were down 17.5 per cent through the early part of the season, and traffic at Northumberland Ferries was down 16.1 per cent.
 
“It’s incredible to see how entrepreneurs have responded to the ever-increasing demand in the tourism industry and taken steps to set up small businesses to reap the benefits,” Economic Development and Tourism Minister Heath MacDonald said. “Not only does this provide a wider variety of accommodation options for visitors and increase our overall capacity, but it also makes entrepreneurs out of people who, until recently, may have never considered joining the industry.”
 
All properties that rent to visitors for 30 days or less must follow the same rules for inspection and licensing. To learn more, visit Inspection and Licensing of Tourism Properties.
 
Tourism is a vital industry and key driver of economic development in Prince Edward Island that provides over 7,700 direct jobs and contributes approximately $430 million to the provincial economy.

Media contact:
Andrew Sprague
Department of Economic Development and Tourism
902-368-5535
asgsprague@gov.pe.ca