Tourism 91原创 is alive in 91原创 Township.
The Township announced provincial funding approval this week, following a turbulent year for the local tourism marketing organization.
鈥淭his is great news for the Township of 91原创, its hotels, businesses, and attractions, and for the many people who visit us every year,鈥� said Mayor Jack Froese. 鈥�91原创 Township is home to six vibrant communities that provide incredible opportunities for shopping, dining, recreation, and entertainment, and beautiful countryside full of wineries, golf courses, equestrian centres, and unique agri-tourism destinations. Our community has so much to offer and we are pleased this new agreement will allow Tourism 91原创 to continue operating as our Destination Marketing Organization.鈥�
Tourism 91原创 has had a tumultuous year, after almost voting to dissolve itself in March and losing its previous board chair.
91原创 Township had requested some restructuring of the board, which was jointly funded through a provincially-regulated tax on hotel rooms in both 91原创 City and Township.
The then-board of Tourism 91原创 balked at the changes, but at an AGM in the spring, the new leadership at the tourism agency agreed to make some structural alterations.
Then in June, it was 91原创 City that decided to leave Tourism 91原创 altogether.
Last month it decided to create a new tourism entity of its own, and hired the Downtown 91原创 Business Association to oversee the new service, expected to be operation by early 2018.
Tourism 91原创, operating on a skeleton staff for several months, will now be funded for the next five years.
Although much of the funding comes from the provincially-run hotel tax, there will also be a fee for service contract with the Township this year for $50,000, said Val Gafka, the Township鈥檚 senior manager of corporate administration.
鈥淭he Township looks forward to working with Tourism 91原创鈥檚 Board of Directors and staff in the years ahead to promote this incredible community and support our businesses and stakeholders,鈥� said Gafka.
The organization will also be looking for other grants for its programs, Gafka said.
