ALBERTON, P.E.I. - After a year of meetings, surveys and focus groups, the North Cape Coastal Tourism Area Partnership is ready to unveil a five-year strategic tourism plan.
“We want to create an atmosphere (where visitors) are going to spend more money in our region, they’re going to stay longer and more people are going to come,” NCCTAP past chair, Anne Arsenault explains a key objective of the plan.
Work on the plan was supported by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and the province of P.E.I. and involved consulting services from MRSB.
“We have to make sure they do stay longer by having enough stuff for them to do,” says Jeannita Bernard, who chaired the working group that helped develop the “Grow the Coast” plan.
“We want our fair share of the market, too,” she added, pointing out a recent studyfound visitors spent, on average, $1,169 per party while vacationing on P.E.I. That’s $455 more than the average party expenditure in the NCCTAP region which extends from Summerside to North Cape.
“It’s all about critical mass. We have to stop looking at each other as competitors and we have to work together for the greater cause, to bring them west.”
-Jeannita Bernard
The plan, along with first year priorities, will be outlined during an information and capacity-building session the NCCTAP is hosting at Village Musical Acadien in Abram-Village on Tuesday, November 27.
The plan has key cultural and coastal themes and has as its pillars, regional leadership and commitment, increasing destination awareness, destination development, and quality visitor experiences.
Arsenault and Bernard will jointly present the strategic plan and then facilitate the capacity-building sessions.
They’re hoping to attract tourism operators, anyone who wants to start a tourism-related business and the general public.
“We need ambassadors everywhere,” said Arsenault. “There are a lot of people out there who have an interest and they’re proud of what we have in the region and maybe think they can’t be involved because they’re not an operator or maybe they’re retired. We’d love to have them come out and roll up their sleeves and be part of it.”
The Nov. 27 program runs from 9 am to 2 pm and includes a light lunch. Attendance is free and open to all, but the NCCTAP asked that individuals register in advance so that they can adequately plan. Attendance can be confirmed by calling Kelly at (902)853-6557 or through email at [email protected].
“The big thing is to engage more people and get them involved in what we’re doing so that we’re all moving in the same direction,” Arsenault said.
“It’s all about critical mass. We have to stop looking at each other as competitors and we have to work together for the greater cause, to bring them west.”
Bernard agreed. She explained she routinely recommends places and attractions for people staying at her cottages to visit. The more that visitors have to experience, she reasons, the longer they will stay or they will make reservations to come back again.
