Town amps up tourism efforts - Putting King on the map

NRU
April 15, 2015

Tourism hasn’t been a major focus for the Township of King in the past but it’s seeking to increase its efforts to attract visitors through a three-year tourism plan.

Yesterday committee of the whole received a report from economic development officer Jamie Smyth on the plan’s status. Committee is recommending that council consider funding the plan through the 2016 work plan and budget process to meet the plan’s goals.

The three year plan, which was developed in partnership with Central Counties Tourism, was approved by council last spring. The plan highlights a number of ways that the town could better sell itself as a tourism destination. Adding more signage, creating more connections between spread out tourism attractions, creating a hospitality or ambassador training program and making King-specific tourism resources such as maps and brochures, are some areas of improvement.

Since the plan was approved there have been modest improvements towards enhancing tourism experiences through the township’s participation in the Greenbelt Route and an ongoing partnership with the Headwaters Tourism Association. The township is seeking to work with its partners to better position King as a tourism destination through the inaugural Greenbelt Route launch cycling tour and the 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games this summer.

For the launch of the Greenbelt Route in August there will be a six-day cycling tour of the entire route, of which 34 km is through King. The tour is expected to attract more than 150 cyclists and includes an overnight stop in Schomberg.

While King is not a host municipality for the Pan Am/Parapan Am games, there is spin-off tourism potential for the township due to its proximity to equestrian event host Caledon.

A report to committee from the Headwaters Tourism Association discusses how King can be involved in the events it is hosting during the games. This includes King’s participation in the Headwaters Parade of Horses, which will feature 20 life-size fibreglass horse statues around the Headwaters Region. Four of these statues will be around King. Equine facilities in the township have also been invited to participate in a horse country stable tour.

While the Greenbelt Route and Pan Am will offer tourism benefits to King in 2015, the report outlines future initiatives that will improve the tourism industry. As the town will be tracking attendance at community events this summer there will be better data available to inform future marketing actions. The town is also in the process of developing its beautification streetscaping and wayfinding program, which was approved as part of the 2015 budget.