Here is the breakdown of the $$$ announced…..hopefully something more positive on the 13!!!!
Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism, and Culture Industries Tele-Townhall Meeting: “Northern Ontario Tourism” – July 06, 2020
July 06, 2020 – Hon. Lisa MacLeod hosted her seventh Tele Town Hall meeting. This instalment was focused on Northern Ontario Tourism, and she was joined with Hon. Greg Rickford, Minister of Energy, Northern Development and Mines, and Minister of Indigenous Affairs.
Some key highlights from the call:
- MacLeod and the HSTC Ministry announced new $18M in funding for Northern Ontario
- Regional Tourism Organizations (RTOs): $5M
- Ontario Arts Council (OAC): $274K
- Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF): $8.2M
- RTO marketing: $350K
- Indigenous tourism fund: $300K
- 27 festivals/events
This is in addition to previous announcement of $13M to local marketing strategies (further details on this funding are unclear)
The Ministry is focused right now on promoting “hyper-local tourism”; and will expand as borders reopen.
MacLeod continues her cross-Ontario tour visiting with stakeholders but also showing Ontario that is safe to travel; will be visiting Northern Ontario for a week during Phase 3
Ministry polling indicates Ontarians believe each of the following activities are safe to do immediately or in the next 1-2weeks: stay in a hotel 12% in ON; eating inside at a restaurant 13%; travel by airplane 6%; and visit a movie theatre 7%.
Events and programmes this summer are encouraged to be nimble as restrictions might lift.
Continuing to work with the Federal Government and pushing for more clarity on reopening the US border as many rely on US tourists; more clarification can help for longer-term planning and allocation of funds.
MacLeod stated she would be making another larger announcement later this week as well as hosting another province-wide tele town hall this week (date TBA).