The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 2009-02-25, Page 14Page A14 - Goderich Signal -Star, Wednesday, February 25, 2009 ON SALE SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28 TO FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2009 bulk barn�• i Thompson g9 Raisins 1..b 1 28/100g Cranbernes 5:9 .clad, unsalted or hickory Dry Roasted 1.39/100g Almonds 6. g Neilson .nnaoa B ulkars4=0249 Chocolate ■ le fresh aoa.tod, Worsted varl•fts Gourmet or Rainforest Organic Blend Coffee Beans 1.32/1008 599. � Ib loose Pitted 3 Dates 1.! Rk or large flake ' .13/100g olled Oats .5 7b Sunflower 4 kg or Wilde. Bird Seed 549 VITAMINS Webber Ester C Easy &sallow 12.5900600 mg, t0 Web, or 1000 mg, S0 aerbl Fit Foods Whey Gourmet powder 29.9900olU. Organika 3psatrum Plant 10.5900 0 rl.n 0.taRomxseon, 600 mg, 00a Genuine Health., .. lipoid Bony > or 31.99 polvd.cme Quality, value and selection since 1982 Canada's largest bulk food retake & more. Now over 120 locators and growing.Franclise locations available h. Ontario, Quebec„ Atlantic Canada and Mamba • PO 8864756 Store Locations Kincardine - N0w OPEN! 781 Broadway Street (comer of Hwy. #9 and #21) (519) 396-6052 EVERY WEDNESDAY SENIORS' AND STUDENTS' SAVE 10`',, OFF ALL REGULAR PRICED PRODUCTSsaanatatiodien swift 4, • 0 Provincial reDort falls short Earlier this month, former Ontario finance minister, Greg Sorbara unveiled his long-await- ed report on the future of Ontario tourism. Discovering Ontario: A Report on the Future of Tourism is critical of an industry that has fallen on hard times, and due to the continuing economic slowdown is not expected turn around in the short term. It also charts a potential path for the future of the industry taking in to account the challenges faced by many municipalities. The $4 million, 70 page report leaves one wondering if the government understands that Ontario is more than a cosmopolitan destination extending beyond the bright lights of urban centres. "It falls short of recommendations that meet our local tourism needs," said Bob Marshall, tourism manager for the Town of Goderich. Having no input into the report, Marshall feels that on the whole the recommendations for a future direction seem to by-pass challenges facing smaller and more rural tourism regions. An example of a recommendation that seems wrong- headed is the move to set a standardized Destination Marketing Fee across the province. This would be a fee that hotel and motel owners would be mandated to charge on a portion of a guest's bill. The fees would be collected and managed by a new Destination Mariceting Management Organization locat- ed in each of the 11 newly proposed tourism regions, which would see the proceeds used to better promote regional tourist destinations. "To ask owners and operators of our local motels to tax their visitors more makes no sense. I can't speak for them but I don't anticipate this will go over well at all," Marshall added. "There's no guarantee that the money collected would find its way back to be used locally." With 14 years of tourism 'experience behind him, Bob is not surprised by the largely urban focus of the government's report. It's some- thing he's come to expect as locally the smaller tourism associations have been left to fend for ourselves for a so long he doesn't get overly excited about big government plans. Marshall remains grateful for whatever assistance the government can provide, like the annual $10,000 allo- cated to the highly successful Shakespeare to the Shoreline tour which is allows visitors to choose from seven themed driving tours to experience. In the collection of feedback for its report the study teams heard that the ever-increasing and often uncoordi• - nated provincial and federal regulations posed a barrier to already overburdened tourism providers. Contributors to the report also felt that tourism must be represented strongly in the economic development plans of municipalities. Municipalities must dig deep and get much more creative to carve out their own unique tourism brand if they expect to compete for a share of the national and international markets. In Ontario tourism contributes $22 billion annually to our economy, making it among the top of our export industries. For every $1 million spent by visitors to Ontario it generates 14 jobs, and with more and more secondary and post -secondary schools offering studies in hospitality and recreation services this province is poised to do much, much more to build a stellar tourism industry. One way that the provincial and federal governments could help small town tourism is by making it more affordable to advertise in their travel guides and brochures. When it. costs $3000 for less than a quarter of a page, small communities already dealing with dwindling budgets are feeling that the prov- ince works against them in that respect espe- cially when they are competing in the same markets as are the larger, and richer cosmo- politan regions. It is next to impossible to forecast how our town will be affected by the world's eco- nomic struggles, but as Bob Marshall remind- ed me, studies have shown that when times are tough, people like to retreat to the out- doors to the more passive and enjoyable events tourism offers. Local trends show us that Goderich is often a wonderful surprise to visitors who pass through and stay longer than expected. It's also fast becoming the destination of day-trippers and our friends in the southern United States. This $4million report just doesn't offer the practical solutions for us that Bob Marshall expected. He is more encouraged by our own local effort and positive working relationship between our neighbouring counties. The fine quality of events and quiet natural heritage we continue to offer isn't dependent on glossy reports or more government stud- ies. What is needed is for resources to flow to those who know their communities best, and recognition by governments that Ontario extends north and west of the 401 and har- bours a trove of excellent vacation destina- tions off the beaten path. Then again, maybe being one of Ontario's best kept secrets is just how we like it. LMOMS Learn to Drive and Feel Confident For Year Round Driving With DOMINION DRIVER TRAINING 4 - Day Class March 16 Hosting Class at The Betty Cardno Centre Highway #8 West of Clinton Our 4 - Day Course Runs March 16, 17, 18, 19 Check out the Web Page www.dominiondrivertraining.on.ca Call Carol 527-1891 Or Head Office Stratton! 1-800-855-3027 We Also Do Refresher Lessons For your G2 & G Road Test 4,43M1 i'09505: Wr.65355: •X0,5500 VYX1frAe OFP2M2 WAN v 1 1 /tiz- F A T E R Y 63 Albert St., Clinton Cyferi All -you -can -eat Fish & Chip Fridays (cod) 6:30am - 3pm Monday 6:30am - 8pm Tuesday - 'Thursday 6:30am - 9pm friday, Saturday; Sam -bpm Sunday