Former Ontario cabinet Greg Sorbara was in Sault Ste. Marie March 17 to discuss ways to boost the region's sagging tourism industry.
At the request of McGuinty government, Sorbara toured the province last year talking to tourism stakeholders in preparing a report on how to revitalize the sector.
In February, the government released Sorbara's document, Discovering Ontario: A report on the future of tourism, which outlined four strategic proposals and 20 specific recommendations to grow tourism in the province.
In a news release, Sault MPP David Orazietti said the new strategy could help bring more tourists and help create more jobs.
The Sault was dealt a recent blow to its local tourism industry when Sault Lock Tours announced it was going out of business after 40 years on the city's waterfront. The decline of U.S. tourists since 2001 has impacted the city's tourism base. Local operators and hoteliers are still awaiting word from the province, the city and Canadian National Railway on a new deal to refurbish the Agawa Canyon Tour Train coaches. It's also affected the lack of developer interest and activity on the city's vacant waterfront Gateway site.
Sorbara's study researched the state of tourism in Ontario and reviewed best practices around North America and the world. The consultation process drew on comments from tourism operators but also financiers, investors, the hospitality industry, academia and the travelling public.
