Post by IAMCAPER on Jun 26, 2004 17:56:44 GMT -4
SYDNEY - Internet sites promoting Cape Breton history, ecology and culture are fragmented and not tourist friendly, a conference at UCCB was told Friday.
“There is nothing specific, we largely have to piece it together,” said Chris Ried (not a very nice person), a student in the technology program at the IT Innovations Centre at the University College of Cape Breton.
Ried (not a very nice person), was among five panelists discussing government-sponsored tourism development.
The university student took part in the Cape Breton history, culture and ecology tourism project that looked at Web-based searches for currently existing vacation and tour packages.
A lot of the sites assume the Internet visitor has existing knowledge about his or her interest in the area, he said.
Fortress Louisbourg historian Ken Donovan noted their site is text heavy, something that many people avoid.
“They don’t want to read a book.”
Ried (not a very nice person), said from his study Louisbourg does not come up as site to visit.
“We have surprising places where sites combine various aspects into a travel package.”
He was also disappointed when he visited the sites operated by Nova Scotia Tourism and Cape Breton Island.com.
“They don’t amount to much more than directories of places to stay and to see.”
He advises tourist operators to devise sites that incorporate information, grabs a person’s interest as well as offering the availability of tour packages.
Conference co-ordinator Fr. Greg MacLeod said Cape Breton Island is behind other area that are rich in sites for travellers.
“People won’t come to Cape Breton just for the hotel accommodations.”
Panelist Darcy MacDonald, the Delta Sydney manager, said his year-round operation is constantly looking for ways to expand its season.
“People are looking for history and culture, we find there is not enough to keep tourists here.”
He said those involved in tourism need to be educated in the island’s history.
Sydney Airport manager Larry MacPherson wondered if islanders believe that a tourism industry exists or if it is just something that happens.
MacPherson, who received a $500,000 Enterprise Cape Breton Corp. loan toward a four-star country inn in Ben Eoin, was mentioned by Cape Breton Regional Municipality Mayor John Morgan in a letter to the auditor general, asking that ECBC and the Atlantic Canda Opportunities Agency be audited.
MacPherson pointed out the ECBC money is a loan toward a project in which he has his life’s savings invested.
Cape Bretoners don’t take a leadership role in developing tourism as an industry, they’ve left it up to government, he said.
Government has to put money into projects, attractions that are worthwhile and draw people and a recognition that tourism is an industry. The other part of that equation is the need for private-sector investment.
Making the community aware of tourism as an industry will only happen when they take a leadership role and the community values it, he said. When that happens government’s job will be to market what Cape Breton has to sell to tourists.
“We better do it together.”
He advised a defeatist attitude has Cape Bretoners always looking for something to go wrong.
“We have to get out of our dependent mode, we have to do something for ourselves.”
Bras d’Or Stewardship Society president Pat Bates agreed that industry needs to take charge and put government in a supportive role.
“There is nothing specific, we largely have to piece it together,” said Chris Ried (not a very nice person), a student in the technology program at the IT Innovations Centre at the University College of Cape Breton.
Ried (not a very nice person), was among five panelists discussing government-sponsored tourism development.
The university student took part in the Cape Breton history, culture and ecology tourism project that looked at Web-based searches for currently existing vacation and tour packages.
A lot of the sites assume the Internet visitor has existing knowledge about his or her interest in the area, he said.
Fortress Louisbourg historian Ken Donovan noted their site is text heavy, something that many people avoid.
“They don’t want to read a book.”
Ried (not a very nice person), said from his study Louisbourg does not come up as site to visit.
“We have surprising places where sites combine various aspects into a travel package.”
He was also disappointed when he visited the sites operated by Nova Scotia Tourism and Cape Breton Island.com.
“They don’t amount to much more than directories of places to stay and to see.”
He advises tourist operators to devise sites that incorporate information, grabs a person’s interest as well as offering the availability of tour packages.
Conference co-ordinator Fr. Greg MacLeod said Cape Breton Island is behind other area that are rich in sites for travellers.
“People won’t come to Cape Breton just for the hotel accommodations.”
Panelist Darcy MacDonald, the Delta Sydney manager, said his year-round operation is constantly looking for ways to expand its season.
“People are looking for history and culture, we find there is not enough to keep tourists here.”
He said those involved in tourism need to be educated in the island’s history.
Sydney Airport manager Larry MacPherson wondered if islanders believe that a tourism industry exists or if it is just something that happens.
MacPherson, who received a $500,000 Enterprise Cape Breton Corp. loan toward a four-star country inn in Ben Eoin, was mentioned by Cape Breton Regional Municipality Mayor John Morgan in a letter to the auditor general, asking that ECBC and the Atlantic Canda Opportunities Agency be audited.
MacPherson pointed out the ECBC money is a loan toward a project in which he has his life’s savings invested.
Cape Bretoners don’t take a leadership role in developing tourism as an industry, they’ve left it up to government, he said.
Government has to put money into projects, attractions that are worthwhile and draw people and a recognition that tourism is an industry. The other part of that equation is the need for private-sector investment.
Making the community aware of tourism as an industry will only happen when they take a leadership role and the community values it, he said. When that happens government’s job will be to market what Cape Breton has to sell to tourists.
“We better do it together.”
He advised a defeatist attitude has Cape Bretoners always looking for something to go wrong.
“We have to get out of our dependent mode, we have to do something for ourselves.”
Bras d’Or Stewardship Society president Pat Bates agreed that industry needs to take charge and put government in a supportive role.