Local tourist destination makes New York Times list

Trent-Severn Waterway. Courtesy of: Trent-Severn Waterway National Historic Site, Parks Canada Facebook.

By Cecilia Nasmith, Northumberland 89.7 FM News

Cobourg

A tourism destination that runs through the Kawartha-Northumberland region has made a list of top tourism destinations in the New York Times.

Northumberland County Council's Economic Development, Tourism, Land Use Planning Committee heard good news at its Wednesday meeting.

“If you haven't heard it yet, the Trent-Severn Waterway has been named one of the top 52 places to visit in 2025 by the New York Times – it's the only location in all of Canada to receive that designation,” RTO8 Executive Director Brenda Wood said.

“We're looking at an advertising equivalency of about $24-million. The story has gone viral.”

Wood noted that 80% of the waterway runs through the Kawartha-Northumberland region.

“We want to entice Canadian visits and invite American visitors – who will have a very strong dollar – to come to the Northumberland-Kawartha region and spend that money.”

RTO stands for Regional Tourism Organization, and Wood added a little information about her organization (which is provincially funded) and what it can do for the county. For example, one program offers up to 40% funding for things like tourism wayfinding signs and kiosks and professional help (photography, graphic design) to create a digital portfolio that could not only enhance tourism but entice investment in the community.

“Our main thing is to get visitors into the region and increase the economic impact for all of you,” Wood said.