Wednesday 23 March 2011

Tourism in Richmond County

The countdown is on. Just a few more days and Spring will officially be here. But by the look of the weather we have been having it has already started and none to soon for my liking. The weather will soon be nice enough for people to start using the hiking trails and to do some beachcombing. I was told that the first part of Spring is the best time for beachcombing, if you are looking for beach glass. This seems to be a very populal activity these days. Every year we get more and more people stopping in at the Visitor Information Centre asking where the best spots are to find beach glass. It is apparently amazing what you can find, with everything the storms over the winter have delivered onto the beaches. If you enjoy this activity, happy hunting for all those beautiful colored pieces of glass that the waves have provided.

It is also a very busy time for our tourism associations and organizations as they prepare for the upcoming tourism season. The tourism industry will be attending a number of travel shows with the intention of drawing visitors to our area. One of the shows that Cape Breton tourism operators are targeting for their share of the tourism dollar are the Travel and Vacation Show in Ottawa at the Aberdeen Pavilion at Lansdowne Park on April 2nd and 3rd. This show will have exhibitors from 40 countries and approximately 160 travel exhibits where visitors can compare prices, ask questions, attend information seminars and take in cooking demonstrations and live entertainment from around the world. Destination Cape Breton Association will be there to promote Cape Breton Island and all we have to offer as a travel destination to the visitors, as part of the Nova Scotia Tourism contingency.

Another major marketing venue that we will be attending to attract visitors to Cape Breton is the Saltscapes East Coast Expo taking place at Exhibition Park in Halifax April 29th to May 1st. This is the 7th year that we will be attending the Saltscapes Expo, which will have approximately 400 unique exhibitors providing more than 100 presentations and demonstration, offering visitors the opportunity to gain awarness of the many experiences that this spectacular part of the world has to offer its visitors. The Expo will highlight everything from the Unique Retail section to Savour the Flavour of Atlantic Canada to sample our culture, music and travel, as well as what's new with cottage and garden and healty living. The show has something of interest for everyone. Atlantic Canada is a very important tourism market as a high percentage of visitors travelling to our area come from the Atlantic Provinces.

On the local scene the Village on The Canal Association (VOCA), will have a booth at the Strait Area Chamber Business & Leisure show on May 13-15th at Port Hawkesbury Civic Centre. VOCA representives will promote St. Peter's shopping, events and attractions. The Historic Village has so much to offer as a vacation spot; offering visitors a peacefull location to spend their vacation, great shops to visit, local entertainment and festivals and lots of activities from visiting museums, to kayaking, hiking, swiming, surfing and beach combing, to sailing tours on the beautiful Bras d'Or Lakes and great camping and a wide variety of accommodations. All which we want to share with our visitors. It looks like it is gearing up to be another promising season.

On the entertainment scene: On March 24th, there will be Internet Games held at the La Picasse C@p Site, room 131 at 6:30pm. Come have fun with Tyson Pierce and try to win some prizes, for more information call 1-902-226-3803.

Until next week, enjoy this beautiful mild weather.

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