Kawartha Lakes receives over $1.4 million to support tourism recovery
On July 9, Lisa MacLeod, minister of heritage, sport, tourism and culture industries joined Laurie Scott, minister of infrastructure and MPP for Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, in Bobcaygeon to announce over $1.4 million in tourism recovery supports across the Kawartha Lakes region.
“As our government moves forward with reopening the province, we are proud to invest over $1.4 million to support initiatives in the Kawartha Lakes region that promote our communities and put our tourism industry on a path to recovery,” said MacLeod.
A $1.25 million investment in to Kawartha’s regional tourism organization will deliver locally driven marketing programs designed to encourage all Ontarians to explore their communities, through a joint funding partnership between Destination Ontario and Destination Canada.
The remaining $150,000 will provide support to local festivals through the 2020 Celebrate Ontario program.
“As one of the most beautiful parts of Ontario, Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes Brock is usually a magnet for visitors from other parts of our province and beyond,” said Scott.
Kathleen Seymour-Fagan, councillor, says Scott “has always been a champion for the area.”
“Today’s announcement to support hyper-local tourism speaks to how much our community relies on tourism, not just for the visitors, but the fact that many visitors become residents. If we didn’t have our summer tourism, we wouldn’t exist as the vibrant Kawartha Lakes we know today.”
Laurie McCarthy, tourism development officer for Kawartha Lakes, says tourism is a key economic driver in the city that brings “economic, social and cultural benefits to our region.”
“This tourism investment will go a long way in assisting the recovery of our tourism industry while helping us continue to develop a thriving and diversified visitor economy,” she said.
