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A Look at Investing in Northern Ontario’s Tourism Businesses

With Ontario seeing a proverbial ‘light at the end of the tunnel’ to the pandemic lockdowns that have come to define the first years of the 2020s, people are turning attention to new opportunities and looking towards potentially savvy investments. This is particularly true of the tourism sector, as we see the effects of the…

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Lake Superior Tourism Cycling Feasibility Study Underway – Sault Ste. Marie to Thunder Bay

Since 2016, Destination Northern Ontario (DNO) has taken an expanding regional approach in developing the cycling product in Northern Ontario.  DNO recently partnered with Waterfront Regeneration Trust (WRT), the provincially recognized cycling trail developing organization, to develop the 380 km Lake Huron North Channel Cycling Route.  This cycling route goes from Sault Ste. Marie through…

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March 2021 Ontario Budget Briefing

The past year has challenged us, but Ontario’s Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries have been resilient despite being first and hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. Yesterday, government tabled the 2021/22 provincial budget to protect lives and livelihoods across the province, including nearly $1 billion in available supports for our industries, including: Ontario Tourism and…

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Investing in Northern Ontario’s Tourism Industry

Minister Lisa MacLeod, hit the road on a Northern Tour supporting tourism in Northern Ontario The COVID-19 pandemic has had an unforeseen and devastating impact on the Ontario tourism industry due to the resulting travel restrictions. In support of tourism in Northern Ontario, Lisa MacLeod, Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Cultural Industries, hit the…

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Occupancy Rate Trends Mean Opportunities in the North

Access to accommodations for travellers in the rural north could become more difficult to find due to a growing tourism industry and rising occupancy rates across the region. According to an article published by Destination Northern Ontario, rural occupancy rates and revenue generated for Northern Ontario accommodations have jumped 15 and 28 percent points year over…

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Cruising Industry to make a Splash in Northern Ontario

In Northern Ontario, there are select travel experiences that are the showpieces of our region. Angling on nearly untouched remote lakes for trophy fish, infinite trail systems for summer and winter sports, and snowfall that has snowmobilers migrating north annually are just a few. But soon, the north could be adding a new signature experience…

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Tourism Excellence North Launches New Online Self-Assessment Tools

Destination Northern Ontario’s (DNO), Tourism Excellence North (TEN) program is excited to announce the launch of the new FREE online Self-Assessment Tools! The Self-Assessment Tools are hosted on the TEN website and can be used at any time by anyone – such as tourism business operators, communities, organizations and destinations. New TEN Self-Assessment Tools Angling Tourism Self-Assessment Tool…

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Ontario Waterfront Tourism Summit – January 23rd, 2020

Destination Northern Ontario was pleased to participate in the recent inaugural Waterfront Tourism Summit hosted by Boating Ontario in conjunction with North America’s largest indoor boat show in Toronto. Boating contributes $4 billion to the provincial economy with $1.7 billion in annual boat purchases (new and used).  Ontario represents 39% of the boating industry in…

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Snowmobile Tourism Project in the Northeast Revs Ahead

Snowmobiling in Northeastern Ontario recently received a huge boost of support with the successful funding requests from both FedNor’s Canada Experience Fund and Ontario’s Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation for the World’s Best Snowmobile Destination Project. With the funding now secured over three-years, the pilot project is ready to be implemented with support from community…

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The Great Waterway Trail Adventure – Cycle The North Tour (July 28-August 2, 2019)

Special Projects – M. Wozny The Lake Huron North Channel – Great Lakes Waterfront Trail Cycling Route/Trans Canada Trail is a Destination Northern Ontario (DNO) led project in partnership with Waterfront Regeneration Trust (a provincial cycling coordination association). The Lake Huron North Channel Cycling Route portion now encompasses over 25 communities, including First Nations, along…

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