Island tourism operators predicting Canada 150 will make for 'banner' season

Following one of the busiest seasons on record in 2016, tourism operators on P.E.I. are preparing to roll out the welcomemat once again.

Thousands of tourists are expected to flock to the Islandduring the national Canada 150 celebrations this summer.

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The occasion ofCanada'ssesquicentennial is especially welcome news for local accommodations.

Many campgrounds, including Campbell's Cove Campground and Cabinsin Eastern P.E.I. are already booking far into the summer months.

Campground owner sees increase in bookings

Jennifer Mooney managesCampbell's Cove withher family. Shesaid the business decided it needed tohire additionalstaff this season in orderto keep up with the demand.

"The service sites, the two-way and three-way sites are about 87 per cent booked," Mooney said. "Usually [by]this time of year,July and August is only 65 per cent booked."

Mooney added that while her campground typically sees itstotal number ofguests increase by anaverage ofsix percent each year, she anticipates anespecially busy summer ahead, with likelyover 3,000 reservations.

"I think that people are always excited about the tourism season, but I think that it does look very promising this year." she said.

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While Mooney said shethinks the Canada 150 celebrations are partly responsible for the increase in tourists making their reservations earlier, she also pointed out that her campground has recently taken to social media to advertise what it has to offer. This year Mooney decided to addthe hashtag Canada150to many of the photos of the campgroundshe postson Instagram.

"We do seem to have more and more followers on social media every day," Mooney said. "Last year about three per cent of our check-ins said that they found us via Instagram."

Tourism P.E.I. also expecting a 'fabulous season'

Officials with Tourism P.E.I. are also predicting the upcoming tourism season will be a bright one.

In 2016 the province experienced its busiest season on record, with a 10.2 per cent increase in overnight stays over the previous year.

While it's still too early to tell if the Island will see as many or more visitors this summer, Brenda Gallant, the marketing and communications director withTourism P.E.I. said Canada 150 will help make for "a fabulous season."

"We've seen some great increases in the last three years and it looks like 2017 is really shaping up to be another banner year," Gallant said.

Earlier this year Tourism P.E.I. unveiled its official marketing strategy, called 'Come Find Your Island.'

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While Gallant said the Canada 150 celebrations make for an especially desirable time for visitors to exploreP.E.I., she hopes first-time visitors will make a point of returning in the future.

She added that outside of Canada 150, Tourism P.E.I. has done some marketing to encourage visitors to come to the Island outside of the regular tourism season.

When we say come find your Island, it's no matter what kind of vacation you're looking for we have an opportunity for you, Gallant said."The fact that we're small is our biggest advantage."

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