News Release

For Immediate Release
March 19, 2004

Plan to Promote Cape Breton Highlands Area as a Four Season Tourism Destination

Ingonish, N.S. – A significant community economic development investment to promote the Highlands of Cape Breton as a four-season tourist destination was announced today by Sydney-Victoria MP, the Honourable Mark Eyking.

The Northeast Highlands Chamber of Commerce will work in co-operation with local community groups and tourism operators to develop vacation packages to promote the Northeast Highlands area of Cape Breton as a year-round destination. The three-year plan will include Web site development, familiarization tours, and package promotion through brochures, trade shows and media placements. There will also be an education and training component for tourism operators on e-commerce, package development and customer service.

“Packaging is essential to showcase the vacation opportunities available on Cape Breton Island throughout the year and to attract more visitors,” said
Mark Eyking. “According to the Tourism Road Map, recently completed by the Cape Breton Growth Fund, packages that include activity, touring, and destination hubs can help visitors plan their itineraries, allocating more time to explore the Island.”

The initiative has been developed through the Chamber, in partnership with the Snowbelt Marketing Co-op, the Ingonish Development Society, Ski Cape Smokey and the St.Ann`s Bay Development Association.

“Our goal is to capture more of the 500,000 cars that travel the Cabot Trail each year and to encourage more overnight stays in the area,” said
Ian Green, president of the Chamber of Commerce. “By working with local operators and community groups, we hope to double the number of vacation packages sold over the next three years.”

The total estimated cost of the project is $796,300. Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation (ECBC) will provide a non-repayable contribution of
$430,000 through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency’s Strategic Community Investment Fund (SCIF).

The Northeast Highlands Chamber of Commerce was founded in 1996. It generates revenues through memberships, sponsorships and fund-raising activities and is committed to economic development in the Northeast Highlands.

The Strategic Community Investment Fund provides $135 million over five years to help communities in Atlantic Canada create an environment that encourages and enhances economic development.

Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation offers programs in support of economic development initiatives and is responsible for delivering ACOA's programs on Cape Breton Island and in the Mulgrave area.


FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT:

Stephen Heckbert
Office of the Honourable Joseph McGuire
Tel: (613) 948-7293

John Coady
Office of Mark Eyking, M.P
Sydney-Victoria
Tel: (902) 567-6275

Ian Green
President, Northeast Highlands Chamber of Commerce
Tel: (902) 929-2809

Debbie Martell
Marketing Coordinator, Northeast Highland Chamber of Commerce
Tel: (902) 285-2289

Rick Beaton
Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation
Tel: (902) 564-3618