Gas prices fuel concerns about tourism season on P.E.I.

There’s not much tourist traffic in Cavendish, P.E.I., yet, but that should change soon.

Local businesses rely on the summer tourist surge.

However, pain at the pumps has some operators worried about the upcoming season.

“It’s been a really difficult and challenging two years for our industry, so we started to turn the corner and see some of those restrictions ease,” said Corryn Clemence, CEO of the Tourism Industry Association of P.E.I.

“Everybody was starting to ramp up with a lot of optimism.”

Gas is almost $2 per litre on Prince Edward Island and prices are not much better in Ontario, Quebec, and the rest of the Maritimes -- the provinces where most tourists who drive to P.E.I. are from.

“I think there’s a lot of concern, and a lot of fear, that will impact that drive market, and to what extent we really don’t know yet,” said Clemence. “Then we have others saying that we think there’s a lot of pent-up demand and people just want to get out and travel again.”

There’s good reason for optimism as businesses are still getting calls for bookings.

Travel is typically discretionary, and with limited spending during the pandemic, those who can afford to travel are often willing to pay what it costs.

“People have not been able to travel. They haven’t been able to get out and plan. When they did get out it was always last minute, you know, ‘Oh, it’s open for a week, and then it’s closed again,’” said Dee Enright, director of marketing and sales for Rodd Hotels and Resorts.

“I think for the first time in two years, they feel like they can plan a summer getaway.”

So while there are inflated concerns about the upcoming season, there’s still reason for optimism, with the key months for P.E.I.'s tourism trade quickly approaching.