MAKING ONTARIO TOURISM MORE COMPETITIVE

McGuinty Government Supporting Niagara Region

 

NIAGARA FALLS — The McGuinty government is making Ontario’s tourism industry more competitive, said Tourism Minister Peter Fonseca.

Fonseca made the remarks at the welcome reception of the 13th Niagara Ice Wine Classic. Fonseca toured the region this past week, meeting with local representatives and stakeholders.

As part of his tour, Fonseca announced the McGuinty government will provide:

• $70,000 to the Ice Wine Classic to assist with development and programming and
• $46,500 to help promote the Niagara Ice Wine Festival.

The funding comes from two Ministry of Tourism programs: the Development and Program Fund and the Tourism Event Marketing Partnership.

“The McGuinty government has a new approach to marketing Ontario that will help us capture our share of the growing global tourism market,” said Fonseca. “Ontario’s Niagara Region has a well-deserved reputation for offering tourists a world-class experience, and we are helping to bring that experience to a wider audience.”

In addition to the $116,500 to assist the two ice wine festivals, the government recently announced, as part of its Fall Economic Statement, a $30-million expansion of its tourism marketing campaigns. The new funding includes:

• $20 million to expand tourism marketing initiatives that will attract new domestic and international visitors to communities and to major attractions across Ontario and
• $10 million to double the funding available for economy-boosting festivals and special events to promote tourism throughout the province.

Other events on Fonseca’s tour included:

• Delivering a keynote address about the Ministry of Tourism’s new approach to marketing Ontario’s tourism experiences
• Attending the First Annual Niagara Falls Tourism Member Appreciation Reception as Guest of Honour and speaking to the Members of the Board at the Annual General Meeting of The Shaw Festival
• Meeting with the Niagara Falls Chamber of Commerce, the Niagara Parks Commission, the Wine Council of Ontario, Niagara Culinary Institute, Fort Erie tourism stakeholders, Niagara Falls Mayor Ted Salci, officials with the Niagara Convention Centre and the Steering Committee of Destination Niagara. 

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Contacts:

Alicia Farrow, Minister’s Office, (416) 314-1400
Gary Wheeler, Communications Branch, (416) 325-8391