Northern Ontario Regional Tourism Organization 13 (Tourism Northern Ontario) will receive a FedNor investment of $98,000 in support of two pan-Northern Ontario initiatives. Of the total, $50,000 will assist tourism operators with packaging tourism products and online purchasing, enabling consumers to combine components, such as accommodation and attractions, to conveniently book a complete experience. Specifically, this initiative will provide the required training for tourism operators to assist them in developing packages based on market demand.
The remaining $48,000 will be used to assess the feasibility of implementing an experiential tourism product development program in Northern Ontario. The project will assist tourism operators and stakeholders in enhancing tourism experiences, ultimately translating into increased revenues. Tourism Northern Ontario is one of 13 independent, not-for-profit regional tourism organizations established by the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport.
This not-for-profit organization will receive $85,000 in FedNor funding to design, develop and install interpretive signage highlighting various sites in the Algoma region and along the north shore of Lake Superior that were captured on canvas by the Group of Seven, renowned Canadian landscape artists who frequented the area in the 1920s. This initiative will help build a new regional tourism attraction.
A FedNor investment of $31,500 will enable this not-for-profit organization to hire a youth intern for a one-year period. While on the job, the intern will assist Algoma Highlands Conservancy with the development and implementation of a business plan and marketing strategy for its newly constructed eco-tourism facility. The facility is located at Bone Lake, north of Sault Ste. Marie, on the eastern edge of wilderness forest trails which are used to support cross-country skiing and snow-shoeing activities. Since its inception, FedNor has helped more than 1450 young graduates obtain that crucial first job experience in Northern Ontario, while providing countless local organizations with access to a qualified and talented workforce.
