The County of Perth is continuing to invest in regional tourism.
At the county council meeting on Thursday, Ashley Lansink, tourism officer at the county, presented the final tourism update for 2023 as part of the bimonthly economic development, tourism, and transit update.
Discover More Adventures, what the county calls the 'signature experiences' that tourists can find, has grown over the last year.
Four additions to the series came in 2023, with fifteen experiences heading into 2024 that range from nature retreats to alpaca walking tours.
The new additions are: Black Creek Flower Farm’s Build Your Own Bouquet Experience, Victorian Inn & Spa’s High Tea Parties, Chok Fine Chocolate’s Bonbon Making Workshops, and Applebottom Orchard’s Apple Picking Experience.
There are now 86 farm locations participating in the Discover More Flavour Farm Gate Map, an interactive map on the county’s website that shows different food-related experiences.
Over the summer and fall of 2023, 45 signs were installed at participating farms.
The Perth County Farms to Stratford Tables video series was also successful, the report on tourism acknowledges. The collaboration between the county’s tourism department and Destination Stratford was a finalist for an Ontario Tourism Award of Excellence during the 2023 Ontario Tourism Summit.
Lansink also highlighted the success of cycling-related tourism. This year the county put out a cycle route map featuring routes in the county, Stratford, and St. Marys. More than 4,500 copies were distributed.
Benches and a cycle repair station were installed along the G2G Rail Trail Perth Harvest Pathway in Fall 2023.
In terms of marketing, the county was shown as a top travel destination in Ontario through numerous avenues. It was advertised on CBC, the Globe and Mail, as well as guides from the Ontario Culinary website, the Stratford Festival, and the 401 ONroute Summer Fun Guide.
Additionally, local tourism was promoted throughout the county.
Social media marketing remains a very effective way to attract visitors. The 1,312 social media content generated by the tourism office has gotten 1,162,174 impressions across Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly known as Twitter), county council heard.
Year-over-year, social media marketing has surging by about 50 per cent.
In 2024, Lansink said the department will be continuing to develop the county’s brand, enhance visitors’ experiences, and support local tourism operators.
