Belleville tourism on the rise

By Marc Venema

The increase in tourism in Belleville this year is attributed to the local wineries and Sandbanks Provincial Park, one official said Thursday.

Wayne Zybala, communications and tourism official at the Belleville and District Chamber of Commerce says there were 574 visitors through the door at their office on Moira Street. That’s up eight percent from last year.

Zybala says one of the many reasons for the number increasing is the nice weather.

“People are just motivated to get out and do stuff.” he said.

But, it was Sandbanks Provincial Park and the Prince Edward County wineries that attract the most visitors, especially people from Quebec.

“At one time most Quebecers came here and wanted to camp at Sandbanks. That trend has changed,” he said.

“The majority of people visiting from Quebec stay here in Belleville at our hotels and eat here and shop here but venture out into the country side and down into the Sandbanks and the county in the day and then return at night again.”