Peterborough & the Kawarthas Invests in Destination Development Strategy
[PETERBOROUGH, ON] The public is invited to weigh in on the region’s plan for sustainable tourism growth during information sessions scheduled to take place on Feb 11 & 12, 2020.
Peterborough & the Kawarthas Tourism (PKT), a division of Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development and the official Destination Marketing Organization for the City and County of Peterborough, has begun the process of developing a five-year Destination Development Strategy & Action Plan to guide the sustainable growth of tourism in the region.
The Strategy & Action Plan development is a key supporting component of the Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development 2020-2024 Future Ready Regional Economic Development Plan.
With efforts led by travel and tourism consulting firm, Bannikin Travel & Tourism, the project is taking a three-phased approach, overseen by the Strategy & Action Plan Steering Committee comprised of PKT staff members and tourism industry representatives.
Phase One, which is now underway, involves stakeholder engagement, whereby tourism professionals in the region – including business owners, accommodation and restaurant managers, and the like – weigh-in on their perspectives on tourism in the region; strengths, challenges and opportunities.
Public Information Sessions
Public Information Session #1:
February 11 from 7-8:30 p.m. at Lang Pioneer Village Museum Agricultural Heritage Building, 104 Lang Road. Keene
Public Information Session #2:
February 12, 6-7:30 p.m., at Canadian Canoe Museum. 910 Monaghan Road, Peterborough.
“A vital step of this process is gaining stakeholder insight,” says Tracie Bertrand, Director of Tourism, PKT. “Public contribution, whether by simply attending our information sessions or by contributing their perspectives, will be invaluable as we move forward in understanding how to best support the sustainable growth of our tourism sector.” The feedback assembled in the initial phase will then inform the strategy and action plan, developed in Phase Two, before Phase Three – being finalized and presented to Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development Board of Directors followed by City and County councils in July.
Bannikin Travel & Tourism has recently supported similar projects for Visit Oakville, the City of Orillia and Grey County, all in Ontario. In addition to the team’s in-house expertise, from the Culinary Tourism Alliance of Ontario and Indigenous Tourism Ontario are also advising on the strategy development.
More information on the project, as well as regular progress updates, can be found by visiting the PKT Partner Website at this link.
Contacts:
Bannikin Travel & Tourism
Jillian Dickens
ceo
416-660-7660
jillian@bannikin.com
Peterborough & the Kawarthas Tourism
Tracie Bertrand
Director of Tourism
705-743-0777 Ext. 2129
tbertrand@peterboroughed.ca