North America's fastest car ferry, The Cat, which runs from Bar Harbour to Yarmouth, will be transformed into a floating travel fair for Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia, May 14-16, in a high profile promotion to complement our 1999 marketing program for New England.
Tourism PEI is inviting tourism operators on Prince Edward Island to consider participating in this unique opportunity to market the Island to New Englanders.
"The New England market is Prince Edward Island's largest American market," noted Minister of Fisheries and Tourism, Kevin J. MacAdam. "General awareness levels are the highest of any market outside Canada and, as New England's largest urban centre, Boston is a key market for Prince Edward Island. With strong economic growth in the past two years, there is every reason to expect that Boston will continue to increase its market share of Prince Edward Island's growing American visitation."
Docked at the Charlestown Navy Yard, in Boston National Historical Park, The Cat will serve as the centrepiece to attract important, high-impact media, top travel trade producers, travel journalists, travel influencers, high profile VIP's and the attention of an estimated 20,000 Bostonians and New Englanders interested in Nova Scotia and PEI as their vacation destination of choice.
Boston residents and special guests will be invited to "climb aboard Canada's biggest Cat" to sample the spirit of a Prince Edward Island vacation, onboard the ship and dockside.
Ten Prince Edward Island tourism operators will be among the 50 booths set up on board the Cat car deck. Dockside entertainment stages will feature live music, and animators will welcome and mingle with visitors. The program also includes special media and travel trade functions, a VIP cruise, and industry seminars and presentations.
This special event marketing project is partially funded by the Atlantic Canada Tourism Partnership and is supported by a high impact advertising and media campaign including newspaper, radio and public relations.
Anyone in the tourism industry on Prince Edward Island interested in participating in this unique opportunity can contact either Carol Horne (902) 368-6332 or Harold MacGuigan (902) 368-4452 at Tourism PEI.