The peak tourism season has wrapped up and the key indicators in the tourism industry are very similar to last year, says Minister of Tourism and Culture Robert Henderson.

“The province and industry have worked very hard over the last few years to develop products that better entice visitors to the province, and for the most part those efforts are paying off,” said Minister Henderson. “We continue to hold our own in the face of stiff competition. Given that, we are satisfied with the numbers we’re seeing this year and we have plenty of reason to be optimistic about 2014.”

Site nights sold at local campgrounds are up 5.9 per cent compared to 2012 and represent the biggest increase of any key indicator. Room nights sold at roofed accommodations are on par with 2012. Together they represent a 1.9 per cent increase in overnight stays on the year up to the end of September.

Both cruise ship and motor coach visitation are up substantially in 2013 at 77.9 per cent and 30.7 per cent respectively as of the end of September.

All points of entry are seeing small decreases in traffic compared to last year. Non-resident traffic at the Confederation Bridge is down three per cent, the Charlottetown Airport is down 0.9 per cent and Northumberland Ferries is down 1.7 per cent. Golf rounds are also down a total of 7.9 per cent compared to 2012.

“While September proved to be a challenging month weather wise, there are a few bright spots in the report,” said John-Anthony Langdale, Chair of the Tourism Advisory Council. “We are very encouraged by the dramatic increase in both the cruise ship and motor coach visitation. We look forward to finishing the season on a strong note and working with the Department on the plans for 2014.”

Tourism is a vital industry in Prince Edward Island that provides over 7,000 full-time equivalent jobs for Islanders. It accounts for approximately $380 million in economic activity each year and seven per cent of GDP, the highest percentage of any Canadian province.

For the full September tourism indicators report, and the year-to-date numbers, visit www.gov.pe.ca/photos/original/current_tourism.pdf.