August 2, 2007

 

The Georgian Bay Destination Development Partnership

The Georgian Bay Destination Development Partnership is a tourism industry alliance, created as part of the Ontario Tourism Strategy Implementation Plan in 2006. 

The Partnership’s goal is to attract international travellers and encourage the domestic market to travel locally in the Georgian Bay region in a manner that supports a strong and vibrant local economy and quality of life, and strives for more repeat visitation on a year round basis.

Georgian Bay Coastal Route

The Georgian Bay Scenic Coastal Route is one of nine Great Drives actively being promoted through the Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership Corporation’s Summer Great Drives program. 

The first phase of the Georgian Bay Coastal Route project was completed in March 2007. It identified touring routes (by motorcycle and RV, for example) and area attractions such as marine heritage and lighthouses, beaches, scenic vistas and outdoor adventure experiences. The tours are featured at www.visitgeorgianbay.com.

In the second phase of the project in 2007/08, the Partnership will:

• Provide development training to tourism operators
• Add digital mapping to the website
• Develop signage and orientation kits
• Evaluate and track economic impact, consumer and travel trends and customer satisfaction.
• Enhance communication and relationships with local governments and businesses
• Assess and develop potential new routes
• Develop marketing and media plans

Members of the Georgian Bay Destination Development Partnership

The Georgian Bay Destination Development Partnership includes:

• Grey County Tourism - Bryan Plumstead, Tourism Coordinator (Chair)
• Bruce County Tourism - Chris Hughes, Tourism Manager
• Georgian Triangle Tourist Association - Nancy Kindler, Executive Director
• The Town of Wasaga Beach - Bonnie Smith, Economic Development Officer
• Southern Georgian Bay Chamber of Commerce - Wendy Chretien, Tourism Manager
• Georgian Bay Country Tourism Association- Kelly Krist, Manager & Christine King, Marketing Coordinator
• City of Greater Sudbury - Ian Wood, Special Assistant, Office of the Mayor & Meredith Armstrong, Coordinator, Tourism & Marketing
• Rainbow Country Travel Association - Donna MacLeod, Executive Director (Vice-chair)
• LAMBAC, a Community Futures Development Corporation (Manitoulin Island) - John Hodder, Director
• Scenic Caves Nature Adventures - Rob Thorburn, Director
• Blue Mountain Resort (Intrawest), - Don Braden, President, Blue Mountain Village
  

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Contact
Guy Lepage, Communications Branch, (416) 314-3497

 

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