Dryden - May 13th, 2011 - The Kenora District is aiming for a place on the world stage as a cultural and experiential tourism destination. The Dryden Development Corporation (DDC) is launching a significant new tourism development project in collaboration with 6 other municipalities.
The project is the first step towards the ultimate goal of an interactive, multimedia web portal that will showcase the richness and diversity of the unique Northern Ontario lifestyle. The DDC has partnered with the City of Dryden IT department to conduct the current cultural resource mapping exercise which will establish a database of regional cultural tourism resources using Geographic Information Technology. Building a comprehensive database requires the identification, categorizing and recording of specific information about individual people, places, and organizations that fit into a standardized framework. Cultural resource mapping is recognized as an important planning and development tool for municipalities across Ontario; mapping on a regional scale is gaining momentum as cities and towns of all sizes are increasingly realizing the benefits of cooperation vs. competition.
Insights Northwest has been hired to work with the communities of Dryden, Kenora, Red Lake, Ear Falls, Sioux Lookout, Ignace and Machin to build the database of resources. Another important component of the project is the development of a project website as a resource and communications tool.
“We are building the IT infrastructure that is necessary for this region to continue to attract and retain tourism investment and visitors; this project is an excellent fit for local, regional and provincial strategies”, stated Vicki Kurz, Economic Development Manager for the DDC. “All of the communities participating in the project are working on similar tourism development strategies; as a region we can achieve much more by working together. We see our traditional tourism product – hunting and fishing- as a part of a bigger picture of the region; outdoor experiential tourism – paddling, hiking, climbing, etc- will become more prominent as will the arts, heritage, and multicultural events. As northerners we are deeply connected to our natural surroundings and extremely proud of our communities; this „revealing of assets‟ will generate incredible awareness of the breadth and depth of the region‟s resources, and opportunities for new products, packaging, and marketing.”
The Government of Ontario has recognized the opportunity and potential for improving economic sustainability in the region by strengthening the tourism sector with an investment of $96,250. According to the 2009 Ontario Culture and Heritage Tourism Product Research Paper commissioned by the Province, “Satisfying the needs of „cultural tourists‟ will have the effect of increasing the overall tourism numbers traveling to Ontario. This segment is estimated to amount to 25% of all tourists to Ontario, a percentage which will grow in the knowledge economy of the future.“ Additionally, the Provincial strategy „Places to Grow– Growth Plan For Northern Ontario 2011‟ also identifies culture and tourism development as priorities for economic renewal.
“This is an excellent example of Ontario‟s new regional approach to tourism development at work,” said Michael Chan, Minister of Tourism and Culture. “In the past, there were many tourism organizations working independently, often with limited resources. Now, by working together as a region, tourism partners in Northern Ontario and all over the province are benefiting from a coordinated and collaborative approach. By combining our efforts and working together we are helping Ontario move forward and turn the corner.”
Insights Northwest invites anyone interested in learning more about cultural resource mapping and the project to visit “Culture Quest” at
www.culturaltourismmapping.ca.
For more information contact:Vicki Kurz, Economic Development Manager
Dryden Development Corporation
(807) 223-4100
vkurz@dryden.ca
Marjorie Salavich
Insights Northwest
(807) 223-3004
marj@salavichs.com