Record-breaking month

Meetings and conventions spur record June tourism numbers in P.E.I.

More meetings and conventions, along with a slate of new events, brought a record number of visitors into P.E.I. in June.

The province released its June tourism indicator report Wednesday, showing nearly all major categories showed improvements over last year’s numbers.

Research from Meetings and Conventions P.E.I. shows almost 50 per cent of all delegates who come here for conventions either arrive early or stay beyond the convention dates for an Island vacation experience.

Recent meetings or conventions in the province include ScotDance Canada, Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists and Infection and Prevention Control Canada.

Meetings and Conventions P.E.I. executive director Ann Worth said the total number of delegates in June increased by almost 13 per cent compared to 2016, while year-to-date numbers for meeting delegates compared to 2016 are on pace for an 18 per cent increase.

“Our province is gaining quite a reputation as an ideal location for regional, national and international conventions, with state–of-the-art facilities like the P.E.I. Convention Centre and a strong tourism product across the Island,” said Worth.

Green Gables saw an increase of 26.2 per cent (33.8 per cent year-to-date). Non-member golf rounds saw an increase of 2.7 per cent compared to last June (down 3.1 per cent yearto-date), and motorcoach visits dipped by 17.3 per cent (down 17.1 per cent year-to-date).

Visitation from all of the Island’s major markets saw growth compared to last June, including Ontario, Quebec and the Maritime Provinces.