Canadian University Press Releases/Newswire

Source: University of Prince Edward Island
http://www.upei.ca/cgi-new/view.cgi?id=3218

Tourism Research Centre Established at UPEI School of Business

October 15, 2006

PEI will now be home to
a one-stop resource for tourism information and market intelligence thanks
to the creation of a new Tourism Research Centre. The Tourism Research
Centre will increase Prince Edward Island’s tourism research capacity and
help industry stakeholders take full advantage of tourism research findings.
The centre will operate as an independent agency located within the
University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI) School of Business.

"The creation of the centre is very timely," said Roberta MacDonald, Dean of
Business. "One of our objectives is to work with the industry to focus on
the most pressing questions tourism operators are facing today. After
analyzing new and existing data, a new data processing method will be
created and will become a vital resource for tourism decision-makers as they
develop long term strategies."

An initiative of the School of Business at the University and the Tourism
Advisory Council, the Centre has received financial support from the
Government of Canada and the Province of Prince Edward Island.

"Canada’s New Government is pleased to work with the provincial government
and the industry to create the Tourism Research Centre," said the Honourable
Peter MacKay, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of the Atlantic
Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA). "In an ever-evolving tourism industry,
the market intelligence available at the centre will provide industry
professionals with important knowledge and expertise."