Greg Deighan, Minister of the Department of Tourism, announced today that the annual Economic Impact Study on the tourism industry of Prince Edward Island is complete and ready for distribution. The report on tourism for the 2000 season provides the industry with insights on statistical information regarding a wide variety of items such as visitor origins, party size and type, travel motivators, length of stay, expenditures, and a multitude of detailed information.
Throughout the season, visitor data is collected in several different ways and compiled into an annual report. Highlights from this year's report include:
- During this reporting period, it is estimated that a total of 1.18 million pleasure and business visitors spent a total of $301.1 million while vacationing or conducting business in Prince Edward Island. These statistics continue to demonstrate that the Tourism industry is a significant contributor to the Prince Edward Island economy.
- This year's tourism season included strong growth in the New Brunswick, New England and Mid-Atlantic markets and a continued growth in motorcoach traffic. Average party expenditure was also up from the previous year.
- The statistics support that 45 percent of Prince Edward Island's pleasure visitors consisted of adult couples, while families with children under 18 accounted for 30 percent of market share.
- After several years of declining market share, the aged 60+ segment levelled in 2000 at 23 percent of visitors. The under-40 age group declined slightly to 28 percent of visitors, while the 40-50 age group increased slightly to 49 percent.
- Prince Edward Island continues to attract high income earners with 67 percent of the pleasure visitors having a family income of more than $50,000.
- Visitor satisfaction was again measured this year, and 97 percent of our visitors reported that their experience in Prince Edward Island met, or exceeded, their expectations. Furthermore, almost 70 percent stated that they were very satisfied with their visit. Overall, visitors to Prince Edward Island continue to rate their visit very highly.
"I am pleased to release this information to the general public, and I am sure that the research done will provide us with insights about the season that just past," noted the Minister. "Once we determine the trends, we will be able to address the needs of the travelling public better and hopefully use the information to create innovative opportunities that will attract more visitors to Prince Edward Island for years to come."
Copies of this year's report entitled Economic Impact Tourism 2000 are available from Island Information Service, Tourism PEI and on the Province's web site.