Local tourism project recognized for innovation
Posted By SHAWN GIILCK
Posted 3 months ago
A local tourist initiative led by Don Braden from Blue Mountain Resort raised its profile recently at the Ontario Tourism Summit.
The Georgian Bay Destination Development Partnership (GBDDP) was recognized as one of three finalists in the Tourism Innovator of the Year Award presented at the summit.
"While we did not win the award, I think it is remarkable that our efforts were so well regarded by our peers," said Donna MacLeod, Past Chair of the GBDDP.
"This project has brought together all the tourism organizations around the Georgian Bay as well as support from the municipal councils as we all work to make Georgian Bay an outstanding Canadian tourism destination," added MacLeod.
The Georgian Bay Destination Development Partnership has member municipalities all around Georgian Bay, which it's planning to market as a "tourism icon" on the scope of such internationallly-renowned sites as Tuscanyin Italy or Africa's Serengetti plains.
"The selection committee recognized the large geographic scope of the project (2,000 miles of coastland all within Ontario) as well as the co-operation amongst central and northern Ontario organizations," said Braden, chair of the GBDDP. "This recognition will spur on the efforts to make Georgian Bay foremost in tourist minds."
Braden is also the president of the Blue Mountain Village Association. The resort is also deeply involved in the partnership, which developed a driving tour of the bay -- the Georgian Bay Coastal Route--as its first project.
In total, the team has developed 11 "experiential packages," now including a beach tour, lighthouse and marine heritage tours, scenic vistas, cruising, nature experiences, outdoor adventure, top-ten things to do, winter experiences, and a golf tour.
Rob Thorburn, the mastermind behind the Scenic Caves Outdoor Adventures, has been one of the main advocates of the concept. He isn't shy about proclaiming his belief that the Sweetwater Sea can become an international tourist icon to rival trademark destinations.
Such "iconic" tourism destinations create their own excitement, Thorburn said, and are now being pushed hard by the provincial Ministry of Tourism.
In 2005, the Ministry of Tourism embraced the concept and designated seven regions to be developed, including Georgian Bay, Toronto, The Thousand Islands, Ottawa, Muskoka-Kawarthas, Niagara Falls and the Windsor area.
Georgian Bay was the first of those regions to begin work on developing a marketing campaign and coalescing local support.
