Breaking News - Tariff Support - The Chamber is your source for Tariff Updates. Check out our page for the latest Tariff Resources, SUpport & Events
Peterborough + Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Board of Directors
    • Staff Directory
    • Careers
  • Events
    • Calendar
    • Host a Chamber Event
    • Monthly >
      • The Business Exchange (TBX)
      • ChamberAM
      • Not-for-Profit Group (NFP)
    • Annual >
      • Luminary Awards
      • Seniors Showcase
      • PK Excellence
    • Campaigns and Connections >
      • Sales Lead Network
      • 26 Coffees
      • #lovelocalptbokawarthas campaign
    • 26 Coffees Program
  • Membership
    • Join Us
    • Benefits >
      • Chambers Plan
    • Profile and Sponsorships
    • Resources
    • Members Only
  • News
    • Voice of Business Podcast
    • Voice of Business
    • The Business Beat
    • Subscribe to e-Newsletter
  • Resource Hub
  • Directory
  • Advocacy
    • Policy Resolutions
    • Advocacy at Work
    • Advocacy Wins
    • Subscribe to e-Newsletter
  • Breaking News - Tariff Support
    • Updates
    • Resources
    • Support
    • Trade Analytics
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Board of Directors
    • Staff Directory
    • Careers
  • Events
    • Calendar
    • Host a Chamber Event
    • Monthly >
      • The Business Exchange (TBX)
      • ChamberAM
      • Not-for-Profit Group (NFP)
    • Annual >
      • Luminary Awards
      • Seniors Showcase
      • PK Excellence
    • Campaigns and Connections >
      • Sales Lead Network
      • 26 Coffees
      • #lovelocalptbokawarthas campaign
    • 26 Coffees Program
  • Membership
    • Join Us
    • Benefits >
      • Chambers Plan
    • Profile and Sponsorships
    • Resources
    • Members Only
  • News
    • Voice of Business Podcast
    • Voice of Business
    • The Business Beat
    • Subscribe to e-Newsletter
  • Resource Hub
  • Directory
  • Advocacy
    • Policy Resolutions
    • Advocacy at Work
    • Advocacy Wins
    • Subscribe to e-Newsletter
  • Breaking News - Tariff Support
    • Updates
    • Resources
    • Support
    • Trade Analytics

Many small businesses make tourism big business

12/7/2016

 
Picture
Getting down to business in tourism has not been a smooth road.  From a significant cut in federal funding for tourism, to increased competition for the travel dollar, to growth in the number of international people travelling to Canada, to years of an up and down dollar with one of our closer tourist draw areas (the United States), it’s been a wild ride for the sector.   

Recently, the Peterborough Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Ontario Chamber of Commerce released a report called: Closing the Tourism Gap on our provincial tourism sector.  Some have asked why the Chamber is writing about tourism and the answer is simple: many tourism based businesses in our area are Chamber members and many are small businesses.  In the global economy, tourism is an area of growth with 9 percent of global GDP and supporting one in 11 jobs (Closing the Tourism Gap 2016).  One of the main points in the Chamber report is that globally international travel has been increasing and Ontario has not been able to attract visitors at the same pace.  

In its recently released strategic framework on tourism called Growing Ontario Together, the province also recognizes the need to tap into the increasing number of international visitors.  As the province works through its
strategy, the Chamber report makes nine recommendations to ensure that Ontario doesn’t miss out. Both reports reference the fact that international travelers stay longer, spend more and often, because of a great experience, become our ambassadors. 

The recommendations from the business community include:
  1. Develop a government-wide Ontario tourism strategy with measurable targets
  2. Work with relevant partners to improve the timeliness of tourism data dissemination, specifically related to visitor spending, as well as the scope of available tourism data
  3. Work with industry to more clearly define the roles and responsibilities of the province’s tourism organizations
  4. Work with tourism operators to reduce regulatory and cost burdens, and add tourism to the Red Tape Challenge
  5. Support industry efforts to address the labour shortage by prioritizing workforce development. The government should establish a Tourism Industry Table as part of its Highly Skilled Workforce Strategy
  6. Incorporate tourism considerations into provincial infrastructure investments
  7. Improve Ontario’s air travel cost competitiveness by reducing the aviation fuel tax
  8. Leverage the potential of the sharing economy to expand tourism by promoting consistent easy-to-follow rules across Ontario
  9. Create greater consistency and predictability in provincial tourism marketing funding by moving to a multi-year funding model
Some of these recommendations are  already in various stages of implementation and the Chamber network hopes to see them realized. For example, the Peterborough Chamber of Commerce believes that the tourism sector should be studied through the lens of the province’s Red Tape Challenge.  “We feel this type of analysis and feedback directly from businesses involved will help the government understand the needs of this economic sector and identify the pinch points,” adds Stuart Harrison, President & CEO, Peterborough Chamber of Commerce.  

The provincial government has now committed to include the tourism sector in the Red Tape Challenge, but specific dates and timelines have not been identified.  

The issue of timely data on the sector was also a common thread through discussions at the provincial level.  The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport recently released the tourism statistics from 2014.  Traditionally, statistics are two years behind the current year.   

Among the available statistics is the Economic Impact of Tourism in Ontario for 2014 which shows visitor spending in the province to be almost $24 billion.  

Where does the Peterborough area fit in?  Provincially, Peterborough is part of Regional Tourism Organization 8 (RTO8). The City and County are also served by the local tourism office - Peterborough & the Kawarthas Tourism - which is also the Destination Marketing Organization for Peterborough.

“As an active member of the tourism community in Ontario, we're glad to see so many organizations involved in the call to improve the timeliness of tourism data dissemination, particularly as it related to visitation and spending, “says Rhonda Keenan, President & CEO of Peterborough Economic Development.    

The tools used to draw people to our area are just as important as having timely data to tell us who is coming, how they’re coming and what they do when they get here. 

“We were pleased to have been part of the background discussions for this report with the Ontario Chamber of Commerce through the Peterborough Chamber,” says Brenda Wood, Executive Director of Kawarthas Northumberland. “We are happy to see the report includes a recommendation for the provincial government to move to a multi-year funding model for provincial tourism marketing funding. The consistency and predictability of such a model would help us in the marketing and promotion of the region and its businesses.” 
​
The nine recommendations above, starting with a comprehensive strategy with clear and measurable targets for growth, are a map that reflects the industry’s needs and supports.  Global growth in tourism is projected to grow until at least 2030, and the province has committed to meeting or exceeding 3.3 percent growth in international visits over the next five years, so there is significant opportunity for tourism businesses to tap into and stay competitive in the international destination race.


Comments are closed.

    Author

    The Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce acts as a catalyst to enhance business growth, opportunity, innovation, partnerships and a diverse business community. 

    Archives

    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    January 2015

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Copyright Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce.  ​All rights reserved.
175 George Street North, Peterborough, ON, K9J 3G6
Phone: (705) 748-9771  |  (705) 743-2331  
Home    |    Calendar    |   Site Map   |    Privacy    |    Accessibility
Join the Chamber
Picture
MemberClicks