FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
July 20,2020
PORT DOVER – As Ontario moves forward with the staged reopening of the province, more tourism destinations in Haldimand and Norfolk Counties are reopening so locals can enjoy what makes this area unique. The government is encouraging people to come out and safely explore and enjoy their local attractions, patios and shops while continuing to follow health guidelines.
Over the past couple of weeks, MPP Toby Barrett travelled safe and local, visiting and supporting recently reopened tourism destinations along Long Point Bay and in Dunnville.
These sites included:
• Turkey Point
• Long Point
• Port Dover
• Dunnville
• Caledonia
• Waterford
• Lowbanks
• Port Maitland
“The area’s tourist businesses have shown tremendous patience and responsibility in these unprecedented times. I’m thrilled many of them can now reopen for locals to enjoy our region and all it has to offer,” Barrett said. “This marks an important next step in the social and economic recovery for Haldimand, Norfolk and for our province. Summer will be different this year, but we still have great local offerings and things to do.”
Reinvigorating local tourism markets is an important next step as the province permits more businesses and services to reopen. To further bolster local tourism economies, the government recently announced a $13-million funding partnership between Destination Ontario and Destination Canada, which will help to deliver locally driven marketing programs.
“This has been a very challenging time for Ontario’s $36-billion tourism industry. Combined with Ontario’s heritage, sport and culture businesses, tourism is a key part of my ministry’s spectacular $75-billion double bottom line, supporting economic growth and contributing to our sense of identity and pride of place,” said Lisa MacLeod, Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries. “Keeping safety in mind, we are now encouraging people to travel locally and rediscover all the unique and exciting tourist attractions that make Ontario the world in one province. By visiting and exploring the tourism offerings in our own backyard, we will help set our communities, regional tourism sectors and local businesses on a path to recovery.”
The province is also promoting Ontario Live — a new virtual hub designed to promote and support businesses in the tourism, sport, and creative sectors. Ontario Live reconnects Ontario artists, tourism operators, attractions and businesses with online audiences from across the province and around the world.
Local artists, operators, attractions and businesses are encouraged to register now on Ontario.live for the opportunity to connect with online audiences.
The Ontario government will continue to work with the tourism and arts sectors to ensure that as the province gradually reopens, Ontario will be in the best position to welcome the world back to the province.
QUICK FACTS
• In April 2020, Ontario released sector-specific safety guidelines for the tourism and hospitality sectors to help businesses operate and reopen safely in this current environment. The guidelines include enhanced hygiene procedures, physical distancing measures and screening of both workers and guests for health issues. These guidelines can be viewed at www.ontario.ca/covidsafety. § Ontario is investing $9.75 million to support more than 250 festivals and events through Celebrate Ontario 2020, including Blockbuster events.
• The province also supports communities and culture through the Ontario Trillium Foundation, the Ontario Arts Council and Ontario Creates.
• Tourism is a key economic driver in Ontario, supporting more than 400,000 jobs and generating over $36 billion of economic activity for the province.
• Tourism, when combined with Ontario’s heritage, sport, and culture industries in total, generated more than $75 billion of economic activity for the province, contributing to economic growth, cultural identity and pride of place.
Additional Resources https://www.norfolktourism.ca https://www.haldimandcounty.ca/tourism/
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For more information, contact MPP Toby Barrett at 519-428-0446 or toby.barrett@pc.ola.org