The Cabot Trail, Fortress of Louisbourg, the people who live on this Island, our cultural heritages, our
entertainment, and way of life have been noted as reasons to visit the Island and the reason
people continue to return year after year.
It has been reported that over 200,000 people are estimated to walk the newly renovated streets
of Louisbourg this summer to take part in the celebrations of the 275th Anniversary of the
founding of the Fortress of Louisbourg, 250th anniversary of the first siege and the 100th
anniversary of the Sydney and Louisbourg Railway. People have come from all over the world
to join in these festivities. A celebration of this enormity stimulates economic spin offs for the
whole County of Cape Breton area.
Local celebrations each year lure several former residents to return home for their vacations.
Many former residents planned this year to come home during Dominion's Annual Seaside Daze,
Sydney's Action Week, North Sydney's Bartown Festival, County Days, etc. These types of
events attract former residents while entice local residents to join in all activities. Come Home
to New Waterford & Area 1995's committee invited 3000 former residents and 4500 local
residents to take part in their two-week festival. Often these celebrations include class reunions
that encourage former residents to come back to their communities to take part in the festivities.
Some people feel these events will be lost because of regional government. It is up to us, the
residents, to continue to plan and support such activities.
The economic spin-offs are worth every effort of planning. No matter if they are first-time
visitors to the Island or returning home to spend their vacation with their families and friends,
these people are coming to the Island and pouring their money into our local businesses. From
the gas stations, variety stores, grocery stores, to the restaurants and accommodations, the
increase of traffic is significant to the increase of revenue in the area.
The Cape Breton County Economic Development Authority would like to welcome first-time
visitors to our beautiful island. We are sure you will experience the hospitality shown to tourists
that keeps them coming back year after year.
For many former Cape Bretoners, it is (and probably will always be) the place many call "home."
![[Image: Sydney Boardwalk]](../graphics/walk.gif)
