Tourism Research Centre releases report about accommodations used by visitors

The Tourism Research Centre at U.P.E.I. has released a report profiling visitors by the type of accommodation used in P.E.I.

Based on results from the 2007/2008 exit survey, the report profiles visitors by seven accommodation types including hotel, motel, resort; inn, B&B, tourist home; cottage or cabin; camping or trailer park; homes of friends or relatives; other; and a combination of two or more kinds of accommodation.

Twenty-eight per cent of travel parties stayed in a hotel, motel or resort, making this the most popular accommodation type among visitors to P.E.I. Of all groups, these visitors reported the second highest spending per person per night ($109.73). However, spending on a per-party per-visit basis was $775.91, the mid-range of spending among the groups included in the survey. This lower total spending was due to these visitors' short stays in P.E.I., an average of only 2.6 nights. Two-thirds of these travel parties were from Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, and they primarily travelled as adult couples or families. They visited in all seasons, but the high summer and winter seasons were most popular.

The second most popular accommodation type was the homes of friends and relatives (25 per cent of travel parties). Primarily as a result of very little spending on accommodations, these travel parties spent the least in P.E.I. ($44.28 per person per night and $371.45 per party per visit). Their greatest expenditures were on restaurants, shopping, and vehicle operation and local transportation. Over two-thirds of these travel parties came from Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, with a further 14 per cent from Ontario. Compared to the other groups, these travel parties were the most likely to visited P.E.I. before (95 per cent). They were the most likely to visit during the winter and the least likely to visit in the high summer season. They stayed an average of four nights in PEI, the majority of which were spent in Charlottetown. Likely due to their high rate of repeat visitation, these travel parties participated in fewer activities.

About 18 per cent of travel parties stayed in a cottage or cabin. These travel parties had the highest spending on a per-party per-visit basis ($1,224.40) and the third highest spending per person per night ($68.15). The majority of these visitors were from Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. Among all groups, these travel parties were the most likely to consist of families and the most likely to visit P.E.I. in the fall. They spent an average of 5.8 nights in P.E.I. and tended to stay in rural areas. Of all groups, they were most likely to stay in the Anne's Land, Points East Coastal, South Shore and North Cape Coastal regions.

Thirteen per cent of travel parties to P.E.I. camped or used trailer parks during their visits. These travel parties had among the lowest spending of all groups ($47.55 per person per night and $762.53 per party per visit); they spent the least on restaurants, and recreation and entertainment. Over 50 per cent were from Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, and 20 per cent were from Quebec. This was the highest representation of Quebec visitors, suggesting that they have a strong preference for camping when visiting P.E.I. These travel parties were most likely to include P.E.I. as a stop on a longer multi-destination trip. Of the total duration of their trips, they spent half their nights in P.E.I. (an average of 5.2 nights). Compared to the other groups, these travel parties were most likely to go to a beach and were least likely to visit friends and relatives, and go to a pub, bar or nightclub.

Ten per cent of travel parties stayed in an inn, B&B or tourist home while in P.E.I. This group had the highest per-person per-night spending of all groups ($128.90) and fourth highest per party per visit ($850.79). About 40 per cent of these travel parties were from Nova Scotia. This accommodation type was most popular among international travel parties, and was most likely to be used by adult couples. This group consisted of the greatest percentage of first-time visitors (38 per cent), and these first-time visitors were most likely to be attracted by Anne of Green Gables. These travel parties stayed an average of three nights in P.E.I., the most of which were spent in Charlottetown and Anne's Land. Compared to the other groups, these travel parties were most likely to attend live theatre or plays and visit Anne of Green Gables attractions.

'The results of this report indicate that there is a strong relationship between where visitors stay and how much they spend while in P.E.I.,' says Dr. Sean Hennessey, Faculty Director of the TRC. 'This is vital information for government and industry operators to use to help develop marketing strategies, as well to determine the segments of visitors that are most attractive to the province. For example, knowing that a greater proportion of Quebec visitors tend to camp in P.E.I. is useful when deciding on marketing strategies to use and resources to devote to that province.'