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Dufferin County Holding Info Session on Tourism Strategy

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PUBLIC INVITED TO ATTEND DUFFERIN COUNTY TOURISM INFO SESSION ON APRIL 20

Last year, there was a big emphasis on sticking close to home, increasing local and regional tourism, which is expected to continue at least until mass vaccination against COVID-19 occurs. As such, municipalities are looking to take advantage of the opportunities this brings on to bolster their local economies. 

Dufferin County is hosting a public information session Tuesday, April 20 at 7 pm to discuss implementing a five-year tourism strategy and action plan and how community members can get involved. According to the notice, there will be a brief introduction and presentation, followed by a Q&A and discussion portion. One can register for ‘An Introduction to Tourism Development in Dufferin County’ here. 

The tourism strategy and action plan, developed in partnership with Bannikin Travel and Tourism, was presented to the Dufferin County council on December 10, 2021. Terrilyn Kunopaski, who had previously served as editor-in-chief of Canadian Traveler, led the project on behalf of Bannikin and was subsequently hired by the county as its first tourism manager. The public had the chance to provide input through a virtual meeting, in addition to a stakeholder survey. 

The plan itself highlights appealing to the ‘socially conscious traveler,’ particularly those residing in the GTA, who prioritize ‘ethical, sustainable sources of entertainment’ and ‘actively seek-out and give priority to Black- and Indigenous-owned businesses, as well as those owned by People of Colour.’ It further states how these sorts of tourists ‘understand the power their purchasing decisions can have on influencing brands and they’re not afraid to wield it by avoiding choices that may contradict their values in favour of those which validate them.’ The plan also makes a point of utilizing Dufferin’s agricultural, arts and culture, and natural assets. 

In addition to the information session on Tuesday, Dufferin County is also looking for stakeholders with a unique perspective and vested interest to join its Tourism Advisory Group. The group’s objectives include contributing individual views and recommendations to the Tourism Manager to guide the implementation of the strategy and action plan, and supporting modifications as needed throughout the process. Some of the duties required of members include identifying tactics to strengthen Dufferin County tourism experiences and supporting the tourism manager in foreseeing and overcoming barriers to tourism development. To learn more about Dufferin County’s Tourism Advisory Group, click here.

If one is interested in keeping up with Tourism in Dufferin, check out the website and follow them on Instagram.

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