Record pace for tourism continues in August

Creating jobs for Islanders -

Every Prince Edward Island museum and historic site saw more visitation this year than in 2016 – a fact that Basin Head Fisheries Museum site director Elizabeth MacDonald has seen first-hand.

MacDonald said the museum, located east of Souris on the grounds of Basin Head Provincial Park, saw a nearly 14 per cent increase in visitors this season. All of the province’s other major tourism indicators also saw improvement this August, even when compared to a record August in 2016.

“We’ve had an amazing year and a big increase in visitation over the last few seasons,” MacDonald said. “Our success this season is a very clear sign that the tourism industry is performing well and visitors are taking a keen interest in our culture and history, which isn’t surprising given it was Canada’s 150th anniversary.”

The most impressive increases among provincial museum and heritage sites were at Green Park Shipbuilding Museum and Yeo House (36.2 per cent), and Orwell Corner Historic Village (18.1 per cent).

Other tourism gains in August compared to the same month in 2016 included:

• Confederation Bridge, which was up 1.6 per cent in non-resident, non-commercial traffic;
• Charlottetown Airport saw passenger traffic increase 11.8 per cent;
• room-nights sold increased 3.6 per cent;
• site-nights sold at local campgrounds were up 12.7 per cent;
• golf courses saw an increase of 2.5 per cent in non-member rounds;
• Northumberland Ferries saw an increase of 35.5 per cent;
• cruise ship passengers increased by 77.7 per cent; and
• the Prince Edward Island National Park and Green Gables Heritage Place saw increases of  44.9 and 34.8 per cent respectively.

“The collaboration, imagination, and work ethic of operators, event organizers and industry associations across the province has made Prince Edward Island a world-class destination,” Economic Development and Tourism Minister Heath MacDonald said. “They’re the reason for our success this season and why we continue to set records in an industry that is creating jobs and prosperity for Islanders -- which is one of the main reasons why Prince Edward Island deserves to call itself a mighty Island.”

Tourism is a primary industry in Prince Edward Island and a key driver of economic development. It provides over 7,700 direct jobs and contributes approximately $430 million to the provincial economy.

The full August tourism report can be viewed at www.princeedwardisland.ca/sites/default/files/publications/current_monthly_indicators_0.pdf.

Media contact:

Andrew Sprague
asgsprague@gov.pe.ca