Peterborough & The Kawarthas Tourism Pivots Destination Development Effort Toward COVID-19 Recovery
[PETERBOROUGH, ON]: In light of COVID-19’s impact on the region ahead of its summer tourism season, addressing the recovery needs of the local business community is the immediate priority for Peterborough & the Kawarthas Tourism (PKT), a division of Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development (PKED) and the official Destination Marketing Organization for the City and County of Peterborough.
In the early new year, PKT began the process of developing a five-year Destination Development Strategy & Action Plan with the goal of growing sustainable tourism in the region. The project will now be placed on hold for the time being, to shift focus towards developing a short-term tourism recovery phase that supports PKED’s recently adopted COVID-19 Economic Recovery Plan.
Bannikin, the consulting firm leading the efforts, has completed Phase One of the original Strategy & Action Plan, which involved collecting insights and information from local tourism professionals on their perspectives on the strengths, challenges and opportunities of tourism in the region. Bannikin will now pivot efforts towards reconnecting with stakeholders over their experiences with COVID-19, the results of which will be invaluable to determining the best possible way forward.
“Normally, we would be heading into our busy summer tourism season,” says Tracie Bertrand, Director of Tourism, PKT. “Due to COVID-19, things will most certainly be different this year, particularly for the businesses that depend on visitor revenue in the summer months. The steps we outline in the recovery phase will work to address the most pressing needs of our community as we continue to navigate these ever-changing circumstances.
The five-year Strategy & Action Plan will be resumed when the effects of COVID-19 on Peterborough & the Kawarthas’ tourism sector are better understood.
More information, as well as regular progress updates, can be found by visiting the PKT Partner Website at this link or by emailing thekawarthas@bannikin.com.
For additional information please contact Keaton Robbins, Corporate Communications Officer, 705.761.3683 or kerobbins@peterboroughed.ca @PtboEcDev