Vital component

Across the Rainy River District, it has always been recognized that the tourism industry is important to the district’s economy.
Now, the report entitled, “The Economic Impact of Tourism in Northwestern Ontario,” puts real economic value to the industry with clear job numbers. This study is a bright star of success in a otherwise cloudy picture of other industries’ decline.
In 1996, a study by the province indicated that tourism generated $183 million in Northern Ontario and generated 3,079 jobs. The 1996 study estimated $118 million of that total was generated in Northwestern Ontario.
This new study looking at Northwestern Ontario has calculated that in 2001, $340 million was spent in the Rainy River and Kenora districts by tourists, with Americans generating $270 million of that amount. The greatest portion of that spending occurs in the period April through September.
Of the $362 million in Gross Domestic Product created by tourism in the Kenora and Rainy River districts, $218 million is retained.
In 2001, it was estimated that 6,000 direct jobs were created in the tourism sector of the two districts, and an additional 4,500 jobs were created indirectly, creating a payroll of just over $228 million.
It clearly shows that the money generated by tourism in Rainy River and Kenora clearly stays within the region and contributes substantially to the economies of the communities of the two districts.
The study indicates that for too long, tourism’s value has been underestimated by communities and that more recognition should be given to the operators of lodges, resorts, hotels, motels, and camp grounds who attract over 1.5 million visitors a years to the Rainy River and Kenora districts.
The study clearly lays out what the easiest target markets for growth are. It indicates what areas of the United States it may be easiest to attract new visitors from. The comparison of numbers between 1996 and 2001 shows the growth potential of the industry.
Let’s hope that the document will be well-used in developing new marketing plans by the area and province to increase visitations and lengths of stay in the region.