“Overall, occupancy is up; and by the number of room-nights-sold, we can clearly state that visitors are coming to Prince Edward Island,” said Minister Docherty. “We are pleased with the numbers and realize that with the high fuel costs and rising Canadian dollar, the industry has been faced with some uncontrollable challenges. The feedback our department has been receiving from operators has been generally positive.”

The numbers for the four regions across the province are as follows: North Cape Coastal drive is showing room-nights-sold are up 27 percent and occupancy is up 7 percentage points; Summerside is showing room-nights-sold are up 31 per cent; Anne’s Land occupancy is up 3.5 percent, Cavendish’s room-nights-sold is up 19 percent. The occupancy numbers for the South Shore were a bit weaker in June, however, year-to-date occupancy numbers for the South Shore are on par with last year; and Points East is also on par with last year’s numbers. Year-to-date numbers for Charlottetown report total room-nights-sold are on par with last year.

Other indicators of the season, up to the end of June, include the number of inquiries at the call centre and requests for Island Guide visitor kits are up 5 percent each. Room-nights-sold to motorcoach travellers in June has doubled from the same period last year; and the airport traffic continues to report strong numbers and is up 13 percent. The bridge traffic, along with ferry traffic, for June, are both showing a slight decrease.

Kevin Murphy, Chair of the Tourism Advisory Council commented on the value of the indicators. “Since the introduction of mandatory occupancy reporting in 2005, we have much more timely information about season performance and I urge all operators to be diligent in filing. The sooner the numbers are submitted, the sooner reliable indicators can be released back to industry. This information becomes even more important in times of uncertainty such as these with questions around the US economy and visitor market, but we are hopeful that inquiries and early indicators will translate into a solid season for operators.”

“It’s still early, but we remain cautiously optimistic,” said Minister Docherty. “We are not alone in our challenges, as the tourism industry across Canada is facing the same issues. Operators are aware of these challenges and are adjusting accordingly, and today’s traveler may also be altering their travel plans.”

To access the latest tourism indicators, please visit www.peitac.com.