MCGUINTY GOVERNMENT GRANT HELPS PROMOTE MUSKOKA SKIING AND SNOWBOARDING
Program Seeks To Double Winter Visitors In Three Years

 

HUNTSVILLE – The McGuinty government is investing $16,800 to help attract more skiers and snowboarders from the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) to ski and stay at resorts in Muskoka, Tourism Minister Jim Bradley announced today.

"Muskoka is a wonderful winter playground that has the potential to attract many more visitors from the GTA," said Bradley. "Raising awareness of winter activities in Muskoka can improve year-round tourism employment in the Huntsville area and support the regional economy."

The provincial government is providing funding to a consortium of businesses led by Hidden Valley Highlands Ski Area to support newspaper, radio advertising and on-line marketing of Muskoka Ski and Stay packages in Toronto. The packages include meals, lifts, equipment rentals, lessons and accommodation at Deerhurst Resort, Delta Grandview Resort and Hidden Valley resort.

The goal of the three-year Ski Muskoka winter marketing program is to double the number of winter visitors. In the first year, organizers are aiming to increase visits by 50 per cent and raise overall winter occupancy levels in the Huntsville area by two per cent, creating an estimated $165,000 in additional revenue.

"Muskoka has everything it needs to be a four-season tourism destination, given its proximity to the GTA," said Don MacLachlan, General Manager Hidden Valley Highlands Ski Area. "The support we are getting from the Ontario government will help us reach more potential visitors."

The marketing partnership with Muskoka is the most recent tourism investment by the McGuinty government, which has also supported:

• The Experience the Hills campaign with golf courses, resorts and bed and breakfast partners in the Orangeville area
• The Explore the Bruce Passport Adventure campaign with 30 partners in Bruce County
• The Shakespeare to the Shoreline campaign with partners in Huron and Perth counties including Tourism Stratford.

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Contacts:
David Oved, Minister’s Office, (416) 314-1400
Gary Wheeler, Communications Branch, (416) 325-8391