It’s “business as usual” for the Sunset Country Travel Association despite word from the province that core funding to all Ontario travel associations will be cut.
“The funding structure is changing,” SCTA executive director Gerry Cariou said. “We used to receive some core funding from the province of Ontario.”
At a meeting between the Ministry of Tourism and delegates from across the province last Wednesday, the government announced its funding for the travel associations was being cut 100 percent but indicated other avenues would be forthcoming.
And Cariou is optimistic the SCTA will be able to survive on its own.
“It is business as usual,” he said. “It’s prudent for us to engage in a scenario analysis. We are in a mode of identifying scenarios but we are currently in good financial shape.”
Cariou said word the province was axing its core funding was a bit of a surprise but added Sunset Country has enough revenue coming in from other sources to avoid any cuts locally.
“We have over 450 members, [and] we generate revenue through a number of other streams. There will be other opportunities,” he said.
The SCTA also brings in revenue through advertising in its tourist guides and flyers.
Still, until the Ministry of Tourism’s other funding options materialize in the form of fee-for-service or administration grants, provincial travel associations will have to change their structure to survive.
Only the cuts are for certain.
Ontario’s Sunset Country is a marketing organization that serves an area of more than 60,000 square miles, including the Rainy River, Patricia, and Kenora Districts.
It strives to promote Northwestern Ontario as the number-one outdoor tourism destination.
“We play an important role in maximizing customer information,” said Cariou.
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