Calling all Islanders!! Tourism PEI and the Tourism Industry Association of Prince Edward Island (TIAPEI) launched a grass-roots campaign today aimed at increasing visitation for the 2003 season. The contest invites all Islanders to call or email friends and/or relatives in other Canadian provinces to "Come Home to the Island" to rediscover the magic and beauty of the Island and renew old friendships.
Minister of Tourism, Jeffrey Lantz noted, "This initiative allows for every Islander to get involved in making tourism a success on Prince Edward Island. We have many external factors working against the travel industry in 2003, and this is a pro-active way of encouraging people to travel to Prince Edward Island." He continued, "It's a call-to-action, and I believe that our best marketers, Islanders themselves, will come on board as great ambassadors for our industry."
The contest asks Islanders to personally invite their friends and family in the rest of Canada to enter to win a trip to Prince Edward Island. Islanders can either phone their family and/or friends or send them an innovative e-card from the Web site "peiplay.com/home." Entering the contest will be simple: friends and family living in other Canadian provinces can visit www.peiplay.com/home or respond to the e-card and request a Visitors Guide package; or they can call the toll-free number (1 888-PEI-PLAY) and quote our contest code word "home." Every person who responds to an Islander's invitation will receive a 2003 Visitors Guide and automatically be entered to win the "Come Home to PEI" grand prize.
Gordon MacInnis, President of TIAPEI said, "The industry has collaborated within a very small window of time to create a great way for every Islander to affect the success of the 2003 tourism season." He added, "Not only are there ‘from away' winners in the contest, but the Islander who invited the winning visitor is the recipient of some great prizes as well. The generous sponsor participation made this promotion appealing to everyone involved."
The grand prize for the lucky visitor includes: four return flights to Charlottetown from anywhere JetsGo flies in Canada, seven days car rental courtesy of Hertz, six nights accommodation at By-the-Bay Cottages, ten tickets to the Mainstage Theatre at the Confederation Centre of the Arts, as well as lobster dinner for ten at Lobster on the Wharf. As a special twist to the contest, a grand prize is also awarded to the Islander who invited the lucky winner consisting of a weekend get-away at Rodd Mill River a Rodd Signature Resort and four tickets to a Mainstage Theatre performance at the Confederation Centre of the Arts.
Playing on the well-known fact that Islanders have the very best in hospitality, this contest encourages everyone to take a part in convincing travellers that Prince Edward Island should be their vacation destination of choice for 2003. Details surrounding the contest can be found at the Tourism PEI Web site www.peiplay.com, the TIAPEI Web site www.tiapei.pe.ca or by contacting Tourism PEI at (902) 368-5540.