P.E.I. will spend $1 million to showcase itself to the world during the Vancouver Olympics in the hopes that it will bring more of the world to the Island.

The 2010 Winter Games are an ideal opportunity to boost international tourism, said Brenda Gallant, director of marketing communications for Tourism PEI.

In 2009, international visitors accounted for only four per cent of P.E.I. tourism, she said.

'We get equal opportunity to a province as large as Ontario, or Quebec, or B.C. because everybody is being treated equally. So for P.E.I., that's incredible.'—Brenda Gallant, Tourism PEI

"When you're talking to someone in an Asian country, or European country, P.E.I. brand awareness is not very high.

"For example, on the culinary side, all around the world, people will eat P.E.I. mussels and they don't necessarily associate P.E.I. with the destination.

"So we're trying to do a lot of that, associating the product with the destination."

The province, which detailed its plans on Friday, will spend half of the money being an Olympic sponsor.

In return, Feb. 18 has been designated P.E.I. Day, entitling the province to promote itself at Olympic venues.

"Our island's culture, tourism, talent, culinary, business and hospitality will be showcased to visitors and media worldwide," Premier Robert Ghiz stated in a news release.

"We get equal opportunity to a province as large as Ontario, or Quebec, or B.C. because everybody is being treated equally. So for P.E.I., that's incredible," said Gallant.

"We're so small that we could never reach the audience in that way."

Culture and cuisine

The other $500,000 has been earmarked for Atlantic Canada House, a theatre that will showcase East Coast artists, cuisine and culture in Vancouver Feb. 13-28.

"We're right in the heart of the action," said David MacKenzie, organizer for Atlantic Canada House.

"Atlantic Canada House is on Granville Island, which is expecting over 100,000 visitors a day during the Olympics. It's going to be open to the public. It'll be free of charge. It's going to have three stages with over 200 artists from Atlantic Canada, basically 12 hours a day on stage."

About 50 artists from P.E.I. will perform there during the Olympics.

Members of the Confederation Centre Young Company will be among them.

"It's a once in a lifetime opportunity," said an excited Aaron Hastelow.

"I don't know of anyone else who's had this opportunity, and I don't know if any of us ever will again.

"The Olympics have been something that everybody grows up watching, where all the world comes together."

Other P.E.I. artists who will be featured include: Catherine MacLellan, Chuck & Albert, In-Flight Safety, John Connolly, Lennie Gallant, Meaghan Blanchard, Paper Lions, Rose Cousins, Richard Wood, Gordon Belsher, Brad Fremlin, Tim Chaisson and Morning Fold, The Grass Mountain Hobos, Two Hour Traffic and Vishten.