The Honourable Kevin J. MacAdam, Minister of Fisheries and Tourism, released the interim visitation figures for the 1998 tourism season today in Stanley Bridge. Data collected to September 30 suggests that overall revenues are up by more than 6 percent, calculated at $269 million to the end of the month.
"This is great news for the tourism industry," said Mr. MacAdam. "We are continuing to build on the huge 57 percent increase experienced in 1997, and we were very happy to have welcomed another million-plus visitors in 1998."
According to data collected by the 1998 Tourism Exit Survey, pleasure visitation increased by 2 percent over the same period last year. The annual survey is performed by the Research Section of Enterprise PEI's Development Division and uses traffic counts supplied by the province's three main modes of travel (bridge, ferry and air) adjusted to reflect proportions of resident to non-resident traffic. Telephone interviews also collect demographic and economic information as well as motives for travel and expenditures. The data presented at the Tourism Industry Association of PEI's annual meeting is interim only; the survey continues to the end of October and final results are released in December.
"I am also very happy to announce that, as many suspected, visitation from Quebec has increased substantially," said Mr. MacAdam. "Quebecers now represent a healthy 16 percent of the total visitation; or 187,000 in 1998 compared to about 80,000 in 1997."
In addition to increases in revenue, pleasure visitation and growth from Quebec, the interim data shows a 4 percent increase in business visitation. As well, length of stay and share of trip nights have remained stable from 1997. As usual, Anne-related attractions, lobster suppers and history/culture events are some of the popular activities chosen by visitors to Prince Edward Island.
Minister MacAdam closed his presentation to the tourism association by saying "For the past five years the tourism industry has met or exceeded its marketing objectives to increase visitations and, more importantly, to increase revenues. Based on these interim numbers, it appears that Tourism PEI will approach the targeted 8 percent increase in tourism revenues, or a total of $283 million by October 31."