It’s summer – open the doors and bring on the visitors. It’s not quite that simple - just ask representatives from Cavendish Beach Music Festival Inc. (CBMF), Sandspit Entertainment Ltd., and Tourism Cavendish Beach. Like most tourism operators and organizations, they work tirelessly to attract tourists, increase the length of their visits, and ensure their return. Today’s announcement of federal and provincial investments in the Cavendish area will help create an even more successful tourism environment in the area.
The Honourable Wayne Easter, Member of Parliament for Malpeque, on behalf of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), and the Honourable Heath MacDonald, Minister of Economic Development and Tourism, today announced combined funding of over $931,000 for three projects aimed at increasing visitation numbers in the Green Gables Shore Region of PEI. The Government of Canada, through ACOA’s Business Development Program, is contributing a combined investment of $783,121. The Government of Prince Edward Island is contributing a combined investment of $148,400 to Tourism Cavendish Beach Inc, the region’s tourism operator association, for product, capacity, and professional development.
Funding for these three projects build on the Government of Canada’s commitment to drive economic growth in Atlantic Canada through targeted investments in infrastructure, as announced last month as part of the Atlantic Growth Strategy.
Quotes
“Prince Edward Island is a tourism gem, and the Green Gables Shore Region holds a special place in the hearts of many visitors and Islanders alike. Maintaining the region’s reputation as a top tourism destination is a task groups like CBMF, Sandspit Entertainment Ltd., and Tourism Cavendish Beach take very seriously. I am pleased to announce these Government of Canada investments to support their work in attracting more visitors and contributing to our Island economy.”
- The Honourable Wayne Easter, Member of Parliament for Malpeque
“Prince Edward Island is a top tourism destination in North America. Our beautiful coastline and beaches, delicious food, and unique culture are some of the many experiences visitors can enjoy while in our province. The tourism industry is directly linked to the provincial economy, providing over 7,000 full-time equivalent jobs and accounting for approximately $380 million in economic activity each year. We’re pleased to be supporting Cavendish Beach Tourism Inc. as they look to continue to support operators in the Green Gables Shore region.”
- The Honourable, Heath MacDonald, PEI Minister of Economic Development and Tourism
“In the entertainment industry, it is essential that we continue to update our properties and bring new experiences to our guests. This funding has been essential in allowing us to continue to provide a clean, safe and exciting environment for our visitors.”
- Matthew Jelley, President, Sandspit Entertainment Ltd.
“A number of key elements of the ACOA-supported master site plan were implemented for the 2016 Cavendish Beach Music Festival with great success. The most noticeable development was the improvement to the traffic flow. Exiting thousands of vehicles and pedestrians onto one road was a significant challenge in the past. The new traffic plan called for more driveways, parking and separation of pedestrians from vehicle traffic. These changes provided a safer and faster exit for our patrons while minimizing the traffic impact on the community.”
- Jeff Squires, President, Cavendish Beach Music Festival Inc.
“We are pleased to receive support from ACOA and the provincial government which has enabled us to develop a new consumer brand, and a 3 year marketing strategy for Tourism Cavendish Beach – to be launched this fall. This process has been about two years in the making and has come to be thanks to many stakeholders. We look forward to sharing the final product in the coming weeks and excited for the opportunities that it presents."
- Mike Forrest, President, Tourism Cavendish Beach