Tourism operators in Restigouche, New Brunswick received a primer on using social media like Facebook and Twitter. An expert explained that brochures and websites are no longer enough, and that organizations must join social media to spread their message. Over 60,000 tourism organizations are already active on Facebook. Operators were also updated on plans for the Restigouche 1760 festival in July, which will commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Restigouche through historical reenactments and concerts.

1. telegraphjournal.com - Tourism operators receive social media primer | M... http://telegraphjournal.canadaeast.com/search/article/982084
Tourism operators receive social media primer
Published Saturday March 13th, 2010
Meeting: Organizers of Restigouche 1760 festival also provide an update on
plans
I3 Myriam Lavallee
The Tribune
CAMPBELLTON - Social media are becoming more popular around the world, and tourism
stakeholders must join the movement if they don't want to be left behind.
ENLARGE PHOTO That was the message from Isabelle Poirier, an expert
in investment strategy in economic development, during
her lecture given as part of the second forum of the
Restigouche Tourism Association on Monday.
Social media are many, and include Facebook, Twitter,
Flickr, and LinkedIn. Well used, their benefits are also
many.
According to Poirier, brochures, a website and
traditional advertising have their uses, but are no longer
sufficient. Social media on the Internet are now needed
to spread the tourism message. Facebook, she said,
Myriam Lavallee/L'Etoile Restigouche
already has almost 60,000 organizations active in
Alex MacDonald, wearing the American Revolutionary tourism and the number continues to increase.
War uniform of the Royal Regiment of New York Province,
1st Battalion, Line Infantry, lets loose with a musket shot
at Sugarloaf Park while attending the meeting of the "We cannot reverse this phenomenon. It is now a global
Restigouche Tourism Association on Monday. He was phenomenon. The model that we had learned, where
there to bring attention to July's Restigouche 1760 the information comes from an authority on high and we
celebrations.
get it from the top on down, is completely swept away
in today's society," she said.
The president of the association, Marc Dube, said that the forum this year especially focused on the
importance of social media, because he hoped that local tourism operators will join the movement
online.
"Those who do not want to get on board will be left behind. I would not say that Restigouche is lagging
behind rest of the province, but we aren't advanced either.
"It is an advantage to people if they want to apply what they learned today," said Dube, who added that
more information will be provided next year.
"We haven't yet decided on next year's theme. Maybe it will be human resources training. Each year we
try to target something that will really help tourism operators."
Ninety-five people attended this year's forum, about 20 more than last year.
Several forum participants came dressed in period costume. Members of the organizing committee of
Restigouche 1760 came to speak about the festival, to be held in July, marking the 250th anniversary of
the Battle of the Restigouche.
"Our first goal is to commemorate the conflict, but we also want to demonstrate the collaboration
between the three cultures (Acadian, Scottish, and Mi'gmaq)," said Valerie Babin, New Brunswick
co-ordinator of the event, which will also see activities take place on the Quebec side of the river,
where most of the French settlements and fortifications were situated in 1760.
Two participants were in historical uniform. Michael Moores LeBlanc was wearing the red coat of the
Royal Regiment of New York Province, 2nd Light Infantry, while Alex MacDonald was wearing the
green coat of the same regiment's 1st Battalion, Line Infantry. In a telephone interview later, LeBlanc
explained that the two uniforms dated from the American Revolutionary War period, 16 years later than
the Battle of the Restigouche, but that he hoped to tweak them into 1760 form. He said that early
Loyalist settlers Isaac Man Jr. and John Man had both served in the 1st Battalion. Edward Isaac Man
served in another 'redcoat' regiment.
As part of their presentation, Restigouche 1760 organizers gave a brief overview of activities that will
take place during the festival. The festival will see the appearance of the Chaleur Phantom 'ghost ship',
a concert at the Campbellton Regional Memorial Civic Centre featuring Dr. Bernie Francis, Hert LeBlanc
and Jimmy Rankin, and a day involving pirates and a historical demonstration. The events will take
place in Listuguj, Pointe-à-la-Croix, and Campbellton.
July 11 will also mark the 100th anniverary of the Campbellton Fire of 1910. Nothing so far has been
announced by the City of Campbellton to mark this occasion, which saw most of the town burn, except
1 of 2 2010-03-15 09:33

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for about 75 buildings.
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