Musical welcome encourages visitors to see more of P.E.I.

The Evangeline Tourism Association is using music to encourage touristsvisiting Prince Edward Island to spend time in their region.

Every Monday and Tuesday, three musicians entertain those arriving in Gateway Village in Borden Carleton, P.E.I. with lively Acadian music after they have crossed theConfederation Bridge.

"The musicians are there to attract attention of the visitors. They come up andthey listen a bit and we get a chance to chat with them a little bit and find out what brings them to the island," said Albert Arsenault of the Evangeline Tourism Association.

Visitors are asked if they have their vacation plans made or if they want more information about other areas to visit.

"We just kind of talk to them to try to make their holiday as good as can be. It's just to give them information they can base their week or their day, or two or three days on the information we give them."

The musicians performing are sisters Kaylee and Brittany Arsenault who are joined by Janelle Arsenault. All three are students who have been performing music for a number of years.

Arsenault said the initial plan was to have music played sporadically in the Evangeline area to create a different ambiance for visitors. "We do call ourselves the musical region and the musical village."

Share information

After discussing it more, the idea grew to visit other popular tourist destinations on the island.

"The idea of [playing in] Borden came up and that seemed to be the best match for what we were trying to do because people are just arriving on the island when they stop at the village mostly. Some of them are looking for something to do, they don't have their vacation plans made on P.E.I. so it's a chance to give them all kinds of information about what to do in P.E.I.," said Arsenault.

He added they don't just promote the Evangeline area, they promote the region and the North Cape coastal drive on the western part of P.E.I. and other parts of the island.

"It's really just about that, to give as much information to the visitor so their vacation will be as good as it can be and they'll come back and tell friends and so on."

Arsenault said Monday and Tuesday are the busiest days at Gateway Village. He said the information being provided is encouraging somevisitors to stay longer.

"The more enjoyment that a visitor has on the island regardless of where it is, the more chance they'll come back, the more chance they'll tell their friends so in the long run it benefits everyone."

• MORE P.E.I. NEWS |P.E.I. Supreme Court will not proceed with abortion challenge
• MORE P.E.I. NEWS |Ambulances responding more quickly to Island 911 calls says province