Durham Tourism
Industry
Report
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Connecting, engaging and informing Durham Tourism's valued stakeholders
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Durham Region is an innovation community.
We are home to a network of businesses that innovate with a conscience and have a history of adapting and overcoming challenges.
Together, we are #DurhamStrong.
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2019 Durham Tourism Annual Report
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Durham Tourism is pleased to present the 2019 Annual Report. The report provides tourism businesses and partners in Durham Region with a high-level overview of programs, activities, accomplishments, social media successes, initiatives and imagery that was captured throughout the year.
We look forward to continuing to support and develop our tourism industry in 2020, recognizing that these are challenging and changing times for all.
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TeleTownhall with Lisa MacLeod,
Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries
April 23, 2020
- Minister MacLeod reflected on the challenges in Nova Scotia and acknowledged the many people in Ontario who share in their grief and have family and friends there. She grew up in Nova Scotia and is proud that Ontario is flying the Nova Scotia flag. In this moment, we’re all together.
- In less than two months, 300,000 jobs have been lost in Ontario and the $75 billion tourism sector has dropped by $17.5 billion.
- The province has extended emergency measures to May 6.
- The legislature will reconvene May 12.
- The Minister has been assigned to the Ontario Jobs and Recovery Committee which is chaired by Rod Phillips, Minister of Finance.
- The work of the 14 ministerial advisory committees is underway. For example, the Amateur Sport Committee is developing new protocols for sport. One of the co-chairs is Karen Stintz of Variety Village. The Festivals and Events committee is determining what events will look like in the future. The tourism committee includes representation from hotels.
- This is the largest consultation exercise the Ministry has ever undertaken.
- Norm Miller is working daily with MPPs on COVID-19 recovery planning.
- All of this work will be used to develop the 2020-25 Ministry of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries strategy.
- The Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development has developed COVID-19 workplace health and safety guidance for various industries and jobs (e.g. cashiers, curb-side delivery, etc.) which are available for download here: https://www.wsps.ca/covid19#downloads.
- Minister MacLeod has been advocating for federal government support for businesses’ commercial rent payments and has requested that Ontario be allocated 40 per cent of the $500 million COVID-19 Emergency Support Fund for Cultural, Heritage and Sport Organizations announced by the federal government last week, based on our population and the percentage of artists and athletes in Ontario. She has been trying to get more details on this $500 million fund.
- Celebrate Ontario, Provincial Sport Organization (PSO) funding and funding for youth camps and other community programs will continue to flow. The $1.65 billion budget for the Ministry remains whole but there are some treasury challenges due to the liquidity needs of all Ministries.
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Complimentary Membership
We would like to thank the Ministry of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries for making it possible for TIAO to extend complimentary membership to the entire tourism industry in Ontario for 2020.
For our current members, we will be reaching out to them directly. They will be provided an option to choose:
-To extend their existing membership by another year or
-Become a Green shoots sponsor. For those members that can afford to pay their membership, we will recognize the value of their existing membership through sponsorship (Green shoots sponsor) and use this value of their membership to continue the research and vital actions to rebuild and represent the industry’s voice to government in Ontario.
If you are new to TIAO and are interested in becoming a member, please reach out to
[email protected].
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Recognize Excellence in Tourism
It has been an incredibly challenging time for all of us, both professionally and personally, because of COVID-19. That's why it's never been more important to ensure that when we have defeated COVID-19 we recognize the achievements of those in our industry who make our province so attractive to visit.
This is an opportunity for organizations, businesses, and individuals to be recognized on the main stage at the
2020 Ontario Tourism Summit
, the province's premier tourism industry event of the year. More importantly, it's a chance to be acknowledged by industry peers for the incredible work you do for Ontario's vibrant tourism sector.
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Destination Northern Ontario hosts webinar series to support tourism industry
A series of webinars will begin the week of April 27, 2020 and continue throughout the month of May. ADAPT 2020 – A Webinar Series for Tourism is intended to support Northern Ontario’s tourism businesses and communities through the challenges our industry faces considering COVID-19. The webinar series is outlined to provide resources, tools, action plans, strategies, and connections for both today and the future.
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Have a Listen to Episode #58 of
FEO on the Air
Featuring Lisa LaVecchia, President and CEO of Destination Ontario
In this episode of FEO on the Air we are joined by Lisa LaVecchia, President and CEO of Destination Ontario.
Lisa speaks about the plan moving forward for when the province does eventually re-open for business and tourism. The health and safety of all Ontarians continues to be the number one priority for Destination Ontario, and they have created a valuable three-step plan so that when the time is right, a positive and welcoming message can be sent out to anyone looking to come to Ontario.
Lisa LaVecchia also talked about the role of her organization in keeping tourism industries informed about government decisions and the need to put forward a positive message of hope to festival and event organizers during a difficult and unprecedented time in history.
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Central Counties Tourism Update
Central Counties is working hard with our stakeholders to come up with new ways to market their products during the COVID-19 crisis. Whether it’s a virtual tour, online course, or a new innovative way to deliver experiences, they want to work with you to make it happen.
In response to COVID-19 and social distancing, our stakeholders are staying top-of-mind by sharing creative and educational content. This is a fantastic and economical way to let the people know you care about them, showcase your expertise and generate consumer loyalty.
They are here to assist you in the following ways:
- Brainstorm with the CCT marketing team
- Logistical assistance
- Storyboarding
- Assessing equipment needs
- Promotional planning – social media calendar creation
To discuss this opportunity further, please contact your regional field manager:
Eleanor Cook
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Suggested Guidelines for Safe Fishing in Canada
During Covid-19
Written by Braden Kemp & Dan Miguel @ National ProStaff
Every year about this time anglers begin to retrieve their boats from storage, dig rods and reels out of the back of the garage, and start getting organized for the various season openers that are just around the corner.
This year is different.
This year we are facing a global pandemic that threatens to (or already has) shut down boat ramps, public lake access points, and municipal parks that offer river and stream fishing for spring steelhead.
National ProStaff (NPS)
is an outdoors company that connects influential anglers and hunters with brands who need promotion — both online and in physical spaces. Our team is made up of diehard anglers that want nothing more than to be able to get out fishing as much and as soon as possible — and we will, but we have to do it responsibly and within the law.
In order to assist both anglers and decision-makers to navigate the difficult issue of fishing regulations and access during Covid-19 we have developed a set of suggested fishing guidelines. These guidelines have been created by applying the principles of
physical distancing
provided by
Public Health Ontario
— the province where NPS Head Office is located. We encourage you to check the resources provided by your local Office of Public Health before participating in any outdoor activity as these are suggestions and are always superseded by official government guidelines, laws, and regulations.
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Please take a moment to ensure that your online business directory listing and image is up to date on
durhamtourism.ca.
To log into your account, or register yourself as a new user - please click
here.
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State of Tourism in Canada During COVID-19
Dashboard Report #1
KEY INSIGHTS - Twenty31 Interpretation from multiple sources
- There is indication that the easing of travel restrictions will occur gradually starting with interand intra-provincial travel (around mid/end of June/beginning of July), followed by regional travel (mid-July), and eventually international (mid-July), then short-haul (after summer) and long-haul travel (into the fall).
- Opportunities are beginning to emerge for local travel (i.e., within a three hour drive) by end of June/mid-July consisting of short summer trips with a focus on coastal and beach areas.
- Due to the rolling process of when travel begins again, and the possibility of shorter trips in the summer, we expect opportunities for smaller hotels at first, versus larger resorts due to the need to continue social distancing.
- Nevertheless, the need to reconnect with loved ones in family gatherings or postponed celebrations like weddings that have been put off due to the virus, will increase the attraction of more family-oriented destinations.
- There may also be pent-up demand for luxury/high-end sector as travel restrictions ease.
- Some major events slated for the first half of the summer are being cancelled or postponed for later in the fall.
- Many of Canada’s City DMOs have furloughed or laid off staff…in some cases upwards of 50 to 90 per cent of all staff as their primary revenue source, hotel DMFs are held back from previous years or not collected given the current severely reduced hotel occupancies.
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Attractions Ontario
Online Initiatives:
Our goal is to continue to draw awareness and pique interest in Ontario attractions throughout this pandemic. Many of the attractions we represent are offering online activities for patrons to engage in. Here is a list of ways we have added to our website to provide easy access to these online activities. If you would like your attraction to appear on these lists, please email
[email protected]
.
Visit Ontario attractions right from your home! Check out our list of attractions offering VIRTUAL TOURS and ride the coasters 🎢, view wild animals 🐅, or tour a museum with the click of a button! This list is being updated often so check back soon.
Online Educational Activities
Got kids at home? We have the solution! Check out this list of attractions offering education printouts or videos that align with the Ontario curriculum! Great to fill the day with learning.
Check your Ontario attractions knowledge! We have created a quiz to get people thinking about the many different attractions in this province. If you want your attraction to be featured in the next one, please email
[email protected]
.
Check out our Youtube Channel that features videos showcasing Ontario attractions! Take a filmed tour, watch our Ask-a-Local city campaigns, or just peruse the many videos we have uploaded.
New Initiative:
Get To Know Ontario Attractions - Who's Behind Your Local Attraction
. This is a video initiative where the owner of an attraction talks about who they are, why they opened and the importance of their attraction to their community and Ontario Tourism. To be a part of this, please contact
[email protected]
.
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To help us and the local area municipalities better understand the specific impacts on the sport community and how we can help, Sport Durham sent out a
COVID-19 Durham Region Sport Community Impact Survey
to local sport organizations and private facilities. Our municipal partners also shared the survey with their sport contacts. The survey was open from
April 9 to 27
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Thank you to those who responded. A total of 97 responses were received. Results are being compiled and analyzed and will be shared with municipal partners.
We will be working on follow up activities in the weeks ahead, which will include providing additional information and facilitating sessions with the sport community. It’s a challenging time with sport events and programs being cancelled or delayed, but we are inspired by the work of many in the sport community to provide virtual opportunities, to keep their members engaged and to collaborate with other organizations. Working together on recovery plans will enable us to be ready and stronger than ever when it’s time to play and compete #InTheDR once again. #DurhamProud #DurhamStrong
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Clarington Community Development –
Coping with COVID-19 - Virtual Event for
Not-For-Profits
On
April 22, Clarington Community Development hosted a virtual event for not-for-profits on coping with COVID-19.
The event featured speakers from the Region of Durham Social Services, Ontario NonProfit Network, Sport Durham, Clarington Community Development, Autism Homebase and Darlington Soccer who provided information, resources and stories about how community organizations are operating during COVID-19.
To receive copies of presentations or for more information, please contact
[email protected].
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Canadian Automotive Museum
The Canadian Automotive Museum exhibits and interprets the world's most significant collection of Canadian-built and Canadian-owned antique and classic cars.
Be sure to take a moment to visit the
Canadian Automotive Museum Facebook page for daily features on museum updates, photos, news articles, favourite car crafts, videos, and of course, virtual tours!
The children will love to follow the adventures of their mascot Chippy as he makes his way exploring through the museum!
**During these times of physical distancing, Durham Tourism applauds our local tourism businesses in their efforts to provide virtual tours, educational opportunities, no-contact pick up location and deliveries. Please be sure to tag @DurhamTourism in your posts to ensure that we can help to spread the word about your wonderful offerings to our residents and visitors.
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Connect and engage with Durham Tourism and Sport Durham on our social media pages:
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