Book tourism

I’m a CBC junky and heard last night on the drive home show (which I listen to after walking home from work) about an initiative to make St. Martin’s a “Booktown.”

After an easy Google search I found a blog about the idea (http://bookstoretourism.blogspot.com/2007/04/st-martins-book-town-initiative-rolling.html).

From what I understand from the CBC story the idea is to promote book culture by encouraging used book stores to set up and become part of St. Martin’s tourism industry. The idea is being helped along by Jackie Bartlett who runs a tea room in the town and has converted part of her upstairs into a shop focusing on mystery novels. The story also mentioned that a local campground is now stocking camping and adventure book and an artist who is stocking books about arts and crafts.

The next phase requires more used bookstores and related businesses to line the village’s core.

As Saint John is linked with St. Martin’s in regard to economic development and tourism we could join in the fun “Visit the book town of St. Martin’s and then stop in Saint John to top off your book tourism at Oryx, the soon to open UNBSJ downtown bookstore, Loyalist City Coins and the others I can’t name off the top of my head.