Wind farm attracts tourists: 11-09-2008
In the UK, wind farms are a controversial issue, with most in favour of green energy, but few in favour of having them 'spoil the view'.
Not so in Canada it seems, with residents and visitors of one island viewing the local wind farm as a tourist attraction.
University of Prince Edward Island (University of PEI) tourism and research centre found that the majority of the 1,313 visitors (82 per cent) and 363 (75 per cent) residents surveyed, said there should be even more wind farms on Prince Edward Island.
Faculty director Sean Hennessey explained the thinking behind the survey.
"Do our visitors consider wind turbines to be an eyesore that ruin our landscape, or do they welcome the sight of these green energy producers? Is it possible that wind farms can be a tourist attraction?" he asked.
"There appears to be strong support for further development of wind energy production on PEI."
Travellers heading to Prince Edward Island often do so to visit the 'birthplace of Canada' in Charlottetown. A historic meeting in the town in 1864 led to the founding of Canada.