This workshop is by invitation only. 

Please contact Kimberly Thomas-Francois at kthoma08@uoguelph.ca [1] OR Tanya MacLaurin at tmaclaur@uoguelph.ca [2]

Innovative Best Practices to Foster Sustainable Tourism in Ontario’s Rural Communities

The final report [3] of the OMAFRA funded research project intended to identify and compile innovative best practices in rural tourism development that specifically align with the resource strengths of Ontario’s communities.  The process began with the identification of key strengths, encompassing the depth and range of our natural resources, agricultural produce, culture and heritage, built environment and human resources.  Development initiatives were considered from within Ontario, across Canada, and internationally. The end point is this report on the key factors that positively or negatively affect the success of rural tourism development initiatives. The research explored both the specific elements of the initiatives as well as the process through which they were planned and executed. These lessons will be particularly useful in ensuring the enduring success of the recently created Regional Tourism Organizations (RTOs) and other alliances whose aim it is to further collaborative approaches to strengthen rural development.