Tourism operator brings back lessons from B.C. trade mission

A Summerside tourism operator has returned to P.E.I. from a trade mission to B.C. armed with new strategies to make the industry more successful.

PEI Segway Tours owner Greg Weeks was the only P.E.I. representative in a group of Maritime tourism operators who spent a week playing the role of tourist on Vancouver Island and meeting with B.C. operators.

One thing he took note of is how well just about everyone in a community pitches in to help sell tourism.

"People who may not think they're in the tourism business but they actually are frontline," said Weeks.

"That involves cashiers at a supermarket who are recommending what to do, or gas pump guys who are mentioning where [are] the best places to eat. These are all things that have to be finely tuned so we're getting across an effective tourism message."

An ideal case study

Weeks was particularly struck by the community of Tofino, on the west coast of Vancouver Island.

"One of our ideal case studies was the small little community of Tofino on Vancouver Island, which has a population of 2,000 people, and yet they welcome 25,000 people into their community every night," he said.

"Everyone there is very invested in the tourism industry."

Weeks said it's a concept some tourism groups in West Prince have already started thinking about.

A public session was held last month to educate western P.E.I.businesses and frontline workers about tourism opportunities in the area in light of what Weeks learned on his West Coast trip.

Another session is planned later this month.

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