Port Hope announces new tourism strategy
File photo.
By Cecilia Nasmith
Port Hope council has approved a new Tourism Strategy and Action Plan, aimed at strengthening the municipality's visitor economy over the next five yeras and supporting sustainable tourism growth across the community.
The strategy was shaped by community engagement conducted between November 2023 and May 2024, and again in February of this year, gathering valuable feedback from tourism operators, local businesses, residents, community organizations, cultural institutions and those working within Port Hope's front-line visitor economy.
The announcement noted that the plan “reflects a shared commitment to growing tourism in a way that supports local businesses, protects community assets, celebrates Port Hope's unique character and enhances quality of life for residents.”
Contained within it are five strategic priorities:
Strengthening destination readiness through improved wayfinding, visitor information and service delivery
Growing four-season economic benefits and reputation building as a destination
Delivering tourism initiatives through co-ordinated partnerships and clearly defined roles
Embedding stewardship and accessibility across tourism experiences, events and communications
Managing tourism through evidence-based decision making, performance measures and transparent reporting
The municipality is inviting members of the tourism community to a special Dec. 1 event called From Strategy To Action: Tourism Strategy Launch, taking place from 8 to 10 a.m. at the Jack Burger Sports Complex. This is an opportunity to learn more about the new strategy and explore ways to participate in implementation. Participants are encouraged to register in advance on the municipal website.
