The North American travel industry will see first-hand all that Atlantic Canada has to offer as a travel destination during Atlantic Canada Showcase, a travel tradeshow that is taking place in Moncton from October 6-9.

This four-day event brings together representatives from the North American travel industry and the Atlantic Canada tourism industry through a series of pre-scheduled meetings. The meetings provide Atlantic Canadian tourism operators with an opportunity to market their products to tour operators looking for new and interesting tourism experiences to offer their clients.

At this year’s event, approximately 145 Atlantic Canadian travel industry participants representing 105 companies will meet buyers from North American and European companies, with the clear objectives of selling the region’s tourism products and building relationships with key tour operators.

While past events have seen buyers from throughout North America, Atlantic Canada Showcase is delighted to be welcoming four new European delegates to the 2008 event as a pilot project. These delegates are representing three new companies from Europe; an exciting first for Atlantic Canada Showcase.

“These markets are very important to Prince Edward Island, as the tour operators provide a base of pre-booked business for our operators,” said the Honourable Valerie Docherty, Minister of Tourism. “We offer a wide variety of experiences from theatre, culinary, festivals and events that appeal to this market. It’s also an opportunity to showcase our products such as golf, beaches, cycling and scenic tours that tend to be additional draws for this market as well.”

In addition to the networking opportunities at the Atlantic Canada Showcase, participants will take advantage of pre-packaged familiarization (FAM) tours in each of the four Atlantic Provinces. These tours are scheduled to take place immediately before and after the Showcase.

“Moncton is delighted to be acting as host city for such an important industry event in our region," explained Kelly Cain, Chair of the Atlantic Canada Showcase 2008. "This major gathering offers North American and European buyers a unique opportunity to truly experience Atlantic Canada first-hand. We look forward to the many new business partnerships and friendships that will evolve over the next couple of days."

“Seeing is believing, and seeing Canada’s east coast is the best way for North American tour operators to appreciate all that we have offer to their customers,” said Adam Doiron, President of the Tourism Industry Association of Prince Edward Island . “I am confident that once these tour operators learn more about our region, they will include us in their tour packaging.”

The Atlantic Canada Showcase is presented by the Atlantic Canada Tourism Partnership (ACTP).

BACKGROUND

About the Atlantic Canada Tourism Partnership (ACTP):

Founded in 1991, ACTP delivers fully integrated, research-driven media relations, consumer advertising, and travel trade marketing programs designed to attract leisure travellers to Atlantic Canada from key United States, Western Europe and Japanese markets.

About Atlantic Canada Showcase:

Since its inception in 1994, Atlantic Canada Showcase has been hosted by cities in each of the four Atlantic Provinces. The main goal of the biannual event is to grow Atlantic Canada’s tourism industry by increasing travel activity and integrating the region as a travel destination in more North American tour packages. It also encourages Atlantic Canadian tourism businesses to introduce new and unique packages in the marketplace, and provides a venue for encouraging year-round tourism in Atlantic Canada.