HomeMy WebLinkAboutGoderich Signal Star, 2011-08-03, Page 107
Wednesday, August 3, 2011 • Goderich Signal -Star 9
unty tourism shifting to online approach
e of tourism is changing, and
arketing is changing
ly.
media and online presence is
tracting visitors to the area.
per cent of all vacationers first
t their destinations online, and
County, the numbers are simi-
st-time visitors. Seventy-nine
�fthe county's online tourism
Oming from new users.
County Tourism Director
slier said the largest: demo -
baby boomers are more
�avvv than ever before, and
• vacationing closer to home.
rid, Fisher said the county is
1 more than ever in the Greater
Toronto Area, trying to get city traffic to
head west instead of north for the
holidays.
The best way to influence travellers Is
to share their experiences, and consid-
erable focus Is being put on attracting
travel writers to the area.
"H -Having an article in a publication is
worth more than an ad. You get some-
body's picture of the area: she said. "A
reader can put themselves in the
picture."
The Huron Tourism Association has
presented to the Travel Media Associa-
tion, pitching the area to about 50 travel
writers. Huron County has already • been
featured in two sailing public=ations as
well as a featurein the Toronto Star July
8'hi hlighuang
Goderich, Bayfield and
Grand Bend:
"That was a great article," Fisher said.
"People are blogging about us."
While the HTA acts mainly as a third -
party promoter they do host the Taste of
Huron festival August 29 -September 10,
partnering with the West Coast Blues -
fest in Goderich and the Blyth Thresh-
ers' Reunion.
ilowever, they are actively involved
in promoting events, restaurants, retail,
and natural features of Huron County
both digitally and in print. -Staff video
their own experiences at Huron events
and post them at ontarioswestcoast,ca
for viewers to see.
Ultimately, it's all about getting the
word out and being good ambassadors
of the area and Fisher said talking to the
locals is still the best way of getting to
know what Huron County has to offer
liminary findings show Godericht
itors frequent area restaurants
e Milburn
Signal -Star
ire visiting `Canada's Pretti-
this sutnmer, and their vis-
1 businesses, too.
ring a status update of the
amber of Commerce and
odericit initiative to survey
ers this summer, Goderich
oun.cilor, BIA board and
ember Judy. Crawford said
• ry findings indicate visitors
nimu.nity do indeed make
ps on their way to and from
line.
ty per cent of them are
spending money while they're here,"
Crawford told members of the BIA
board July 28. 'Now, the vast majority
of that money is spent4i restaurants,
but they're putting money into our
economy all the same."
Seven summer students from the
BIA, Town of Goderich, Chamber of
Commerce, Rotary Club and
Goderich Tourism have joined forces
on the Canada Day long weekend to
mingle with town visitors along the
area's beaches to gather opinions on
things like their impression of the
town,as well as what types of things
bring them to the area. About 500
10 -question surveys are being
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conducted this summer season, and
Crawford adds, "I think at the end of
this we'll have learned some interest-
ing information"
The surveys are part of a plan the
Partners in Economic Action Com-
mittee (Comedy CDPC) is working
on to engage in focus groups to
determine how people see the Town
of Goierich, information that will
help the group form an Action Plan.
The surveys focus on target audi-
ences- youth close to secondary
graduation, residents, seniors and
area tourists:
1
oirr•
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