New tourism approach approved

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Chatham-Kent will work towards creating a tourism destination management plan, after staff approved two staff recommendations last night (May 26) at their regular meeting.

The Chatham-Kent tourism stakeholders advisory council will assist staff with the RFP process to hire a firm to create the plan, and a new manager for tourism will be hired on a contract basis until the plan is completed.

“We need to tie it all together,” said Paul Spence, chair of the Chatham-Kent tourism stakeholders advisory council. He added a tourism plan will coincide with other master plans already created, such as the cultural master plan.

“Tourism is an economic driver in Ontario,” Spence said. “We’re competing against the world. We need to look at Chatham-Kent from the eyes of outsiders.”

Michael Burton, director of economic development, said it is important to get moving on this process right away.

“The tourists are not waiting for us to get our act together,” he said.

Burton said he expects it to be at least a year before a tourism plan can be completed. He said the cost of the project will be determined by the RFP process, and would come back to council for approval.

Chatham Coun. Anne Gilbert, who made the original notice of motion about the tourism plan, said hiring an outside consultant is a good idea for this project.

“Master plans are very time consuming… there are some really good names out there,” she said. “We need to make lasting impressions. This is economic development… there is a need in Chatham-Kent.”

Lucy Ogletree, owner of Harvest Moon in Dresden and the vice-chair of the tourism stakeholders group, provided a deputation at the meeting.

She said she knows there are great tourism opportunities in Chatham-Kent, that is why she opened up her business here.

“I want to see Dresden come back alive,” she said. All the small communities in Chatham-Kent “are really important to the economics of this region. We need a blueprint in tourism development. Tourism benefits everyone and every ward. It’s really, really important to economic development in Chatham-Kent.”

Ogletree added she used to run a successful business in Elgin County called Winter Wheat Ltd. and learned the benefits of businesses working together.

“I know I can’t succeed on my own,” she said, adding she wants to work with Uncle Tom’s Cabin and the OLG Slots.

The staff report indicates it is important to identify the communities demand generators, including: unique downtowns, entertainment venues, festivals, retail, culinary, arts and culture; history, black history, aboriginal history, war of 1812, culture, classic cars; outdoors, provincial parks, waterways, golf, trails, birding; and agriculture/rural, wineries, culinary and ari-tourism.

1 COMMENT

  1. Much needed. What we have done so far is piecemeal, and needs priorities and direction. Hopefully this will also give culture a boost, which used to be on councils radar.

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