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'Cape Breton If Trump Wins' gets help from tourism agency

Cape Breton's tourism agency is pitching in to help reply to questions from Americans about visiting or even moving to the island if Donald Trump is elected president.

Flood of serious inquiries from Americans visiting tongue-in-cheek website

A website set up by Rob Calabrese pitches Cape Breton as a refuge for Americans fleeing a Donald Trump presidency. (cbiftrumpwins.com)

Destination Cape Breton is pitching in to help the 'Cape Breton If Trump Wins' websiteafter it was inundated with inquiries after its launch on Monday.

The tongue-in-cheekwebsite urges disenchanted Americans to move to Cape Breton even before the U.S.election inNovember, avoiding the prospect of living in a country where Donald Trump might be president.

The website was created a few days agoby Sydney radio station announcerRob Calabrese.

It promotes thevaluesof diversity andtolerance, Canada's public health-care system, thesocial safetynet, along with Cape Breton's scenery, friendliness andaffordable housing.

The site has already drawn more than 30,000 visitors. Some people have sent Calabrese serious inquiries. A third of readers also clickedthe link to the island's official marketing website, hosted byDestination Cape Breton.

Destination Cape Breton chief executive Mary Tullesaw the interest building and called Calabrese Tuesday.

Fielding questions

"We indicated we were on standby to help, and within 24 hours that has come to fruition," she said. "So we will be able to track a little more significantly what this impact actually is."

In fact, by Wednesday morning, the agency's ownwebsitehad 12,000 hits from the United States, compared with just over 1,000 this time last year.

Destination Cape Bretonwill help field questions about what the island has to offer. Inquiries aboutimmigration and there have been a few will be redirected to others better suited to answer.

Tulle calls the phenomenon "wonderful."

"I just smile at the good news of Cape Breton," she said. "Thanks to Rob Calabrese and his ingenuity and his passions."

Hear a full interview with Rob Calabrese