[ISL] "Efforts being made to make Prince Edward Island tourism more gay-friendly"

[rfmcdonald]

Kevin Bissett's Canadian Press article describes how Prince Edward Island tourism marketing authorities and tourist businesses are making a concerted effort to reach out to the potential GLBT market. Interesting stuff.

Prince Edward Island is already considered an attractive tourist destination with its spectacular scenery, sandy beaches, challenging golf courses and friendly people. But tourism operators on "the gentle island" are also making an effort to get the message out that P.E.I. is gay-friendly.

"What we're trying to do is let travellers know that Prince Edward Island is gay welcoming and we have a lot of the things that the research indicates that gay travellers are seeking," said Bill Kendrick, chairman of the P.E.I. Gay Tourism Association.

He said gay travellers are looking for the same features in a destination as anyone else, plus a bit more.

"Gay travellers are looking to assure themselves that where they're going they'll feel comfortable, they're going to feel safe, and they're not going to feel uncomfortable when they book accommodations as a same-sex couple."

Kendrick said that can be as simple as not asking a same-sex couple if they want separate beds or separate rooms.

Vicki Francis, owner of the Cranford Inn in Charlottetown, said it's simply a matter of listing the room options as you would with any guest, and not making any assumptions.

"If you ask for the King suite, you don't want a staffer saying 'but that's just one bed'," said Francis. "You have to build that awareness.

"Even having pictures in the tourism guide that shows two men or two women builds awareness."