RTO 9 | South Eastern Ontario’s Post

Canada is on a trajectory to become a world leader in Indigenous tourism. In this article from The Future Economy learn more about Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC)'s vision, including: ⭐Entrepreneurship and Workforce Development ⭐Attracting and Retaining a Sustainable Indigenous Tourism Workforce ⭐Developing Indigenous Tourism Assets ⭐Marketing Indigenous Tourism ⭐Indigenous Tourism as a Path to Reconciliation https://lnkd.in/eCCREuRG

Imagine a town with great tourism potential and investment… ….but no visitors. Does it sound like a familiar story? Once upon a time, on a country far, far away, there was a small town. The town had beautiful landscapes, rich culture, and incredible potential for tourism. So, the authorities built a new attraction, expecting visitors to flood in. Weeks passed. Nothing. Local businesses struggled. The streets remained quiet. The town had done what most destinations do: they focused on construction and generic marketing. But something was missing. Enter Sofia, a local, innovative tourism professional. She knew the secret wasn’t just in building something new, but in understanding what type of tourism the town really wanted. Sofia gathered the town's leaders. "Who are we attracting? Adventure seekers? Culture lovers? Families?" No one had thought about it. Together, they defined the ideal visitor. They weren’t just after any tourist—they wanted those who would appreciate the town’s unique charm. It wasn’t just about numbers. It was about the community’s values. A tourism model that nurtured the local community, not overwhelmed it. From there, everything changed. The town strategy focused on quality, not quantity. Their new, targeted approach aligned with the right visitors. Finally, the streets were filled with the right kind of energy—tourists who loved the experience and respected the local way of life. If this based-on-real-events-story rings a bell, then read the full 5-step framework that could transform your town: https://lnkd.in/epmVCHDr Or get practical support through the Tourism CEOs, Leaders & Entrepreneurs coaching package: https://lnkd.in/epmVCHDr

Regional tourism to receive $80 million boost.. The Queensland Government has today announced that they will be injecting $80 million into regional tourism, supporting new bush tourism infrastructure to grow regional visitation. With $10 million allocated to 57 projects across our state, this initiative is set to create almost 230 ongoing jobs, attracting almost an additional 300,000 annual visitors and boosting the regional visitor economy by $80 million per year. Premier Steven Miles alongside Tourism and Sport Minister Michael Healy announced the grants, which range from $50,000 to $200,000, supporting tourism operators, non-profits and local councils. These projects will enhance infrastructure and deliver community experiences, ensuring the continued growth of regional tourism. https://lnkd.in/gKhmpUdE

Tourism in South Africa Positioned prominently within the geographical expanse of Africa, South Africa serves as a distinctive focal point for global tourism, recognised extensively for its multifaceted cultural fabric and diverse natural habitats. This nation, often referred to as the ‘Rainbow Nation’ due to its multicultural composition, exhibits a comprehensive array of touristic experiences, converging historical heritage with the dynamic modern societal landscapes. The scope of tourism in South Africa unfolds much like a multidimensional narrative, with each segment presenting a unique aspect, yet contributing cohesively to the overall portrayal of the country’s tourism landscape. Ranging from the sprawling savannahs, home to a rich array of wildlife, to the sun-drenched vineyards in Western Cape, the rugged coastline known as the Wild Coast, and the pulsating urban centers of Johannesburg and Cape Town, the spectrum of attractions for tourists is remarkably diverse. This article aims to provide an in-depth analysis of the tourism sector in South Africa. The focus will be directed towards understanding its primary attractions, the demographics of its tourists, and the impacts it incurs – cultural, environmental, and economic. This comprehensive exploration of South African tourism is targeted at individuals involved in academic research, tourism studies, or those possessing a keen interest in understanding the intricacies of the global tourism landscape.

The impact of tourism on the economy extends beyond generating income and employment. It acts as a growth engine, stimulating investment in infrastructure, promoting sustainable development, and fostering the conservation of cultural and natural heritage. This multifaceted influence demonstrates how tourism is fundamental to economic development from the global to the community level. When considering the metrics of an industry and its impact on economic development, factoring the extent to which an industry stimulates tourism is essential to accurately determining the benefits to a community.

Global tourism is a multi-trillion dollar industry that employs hundreds of millions of people around the world. Despite the tourism industry’s massive economic influence, its benefits don’t always reach local communities in host destinations. This phenomenon is known as tourism leakage, a term used to describe the money that is spent by a visitor which, rather than spreading through the local economy where the money is spent, leaks out to external economies. At its core, tourism leakage can be unethical, extractive, and ultimately contribute to the perpetuation of colonial ideologies and inequality as well as the erosion of natural and cultural resources. In this article, I use a series of data visualizations to depict just how devastating tourism leakage can be, especially for the most climate vulnerable destinations that require additional capital for mitigation and adaptation efforts in order to sustain their own economies and livelihoods. I also present a range of solutions to combat tourism leakage in the near, short, and long-term. Thank you to Jeremy Ney for sharing your expertise, showing me the Datawrapper ropes, and being a fantastic teacher overall.

He wero ki te ohanga tāpoi o Te Matau-a-Māui. These are challenging economic times driving a focus on the need to reduce and remove. So do you pick up the pātītī (axe) or the toki? (adze). You take to the pātītī if you want to quickly fell a tree, you take to the toki if you want to selectively remove wood whilst fashioning something new, better and beautiful. The Hawke's Bay Regional Council is reaching for the axe in its proposal to 'defund' Hawke's Bay Tourism over 2 years. Hawke's Bay Tourism with support of all of the other regions Local Government CEOs is seeking a slower reduction of funding to give it time to pick up the toki and refashion itself and its funding model, requiring deferring the timing of the proposed defunding. Having just resigned from the board earlier this year I have nothing but praise for CEO Hamish Saxton and the amazing team with him, their talent, creativity and ability to optimise the impact of every dollar. The Tourism industry in Te Matau-a-Māui Hawke's Bay, which contributes about $1.3bn annually, 7% of regional GDP, has suffered blow after blow in recent years. We emerged from Covid to regain our feet and then got hit by Cyclone Gabrielle. We don't need our regional leaders wielding an axe, we need the grace of time and support to pick up the toki and fashion something new. The Tourism Industry is one of the more neglected sectors of our economy, given the scale of its contribution to GDP as a domestically delivered 'export' growing international revenue by investing, employing and delivering locally, a win-win. Our visitor economy is bereft of targeted support. Tourism NZ is market focussed and does not invest supply side, whilst organisations like NZTE, who invest in building both market and supply side, primarily focus on outbound export of good and services, not inbound visitors. The funding of Regional Tourism Organisations (RTOs) and Māori Regional Tourism Organisations (MRTOs) is largely economic rate based - without it there is no viable or sustainable alternative. It is a broken and fickle support model. The majority of operators in our visitor economy are small and run lean, they do not have the means to invest in marketing at the level needed and struggle to find time to invest in their own businesses. Without a collective entity doing some of the heavy lifting many will struggle. There is no question in economic headwinds we need to trim our sails to maintain forward momentum. There is also no question rate rises will hurt households - the challenge is how we balance alleviating temporary pain with long term gain - which requires calculating opportunity cost, not just cost. Hawke's Bay Tourism Te Matau-a-Māui seeks submissions supporting their counter-proposal which is backed by Hastings District, Central Hawke's Bay and Napier City Councils who wish to work with them to find a solution. Public consultation opens 15 April on the HBRC Long Term Plan.

"The recently gazetted White Paper on the Development and Promotion of Tourism in South Africa, 1996, signifies an important milestone in the government’s efforts to revitalise the South African tourism industry. In essence, the Tourism Paper functions as a guide for realising South Africa's enormous tourism potential. It tackles issues of the present while establishing audacious objectives for the future. The tourism sector has demonstrated resiliency, recovering from the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic and contributing 8.2% of the country’s total GDP in 2023. This rebound demonstrates the industry's ability to reinforce South Africa's economy and could well snowball through not only the tourism industry, but various other industries as well should the Tourism Paper's guidance be put into practice. Despite obstacles, the long-term impact of effectively implementing the strategies outlined in the Tourism Paper can be transformative. By addressing safety concerns, improving infrastructure, stabilising the economy, promoting environmental sustainability, and ensuring inclusivity, South Africa can unlock its full tourism potential, not only driving economic growth but also foster sustainable development, benefiting both local communities and the environment." What a privilege to contribute to insights such as this, especially considering the encouraging role that Dentons is able to fulfill in fostering global cooperation within the tourism industry from its platform as the largest global law firm in the world. 🌍 Read more on this insight by Deepna Desai and I by following the link below. 🛫

Creating an intra-African tourism map is essential for Africa’s sustainable economic development By TWAHAFA NESHUKU Perceived as Africa’s gateway to the world and vice versa, the African tourism market remains at the epicenter of global attention, offering unique travel opportunities to many global travelers. It is no secret that Africa is a diverse continent with rich cultural heritage waiting to be explored and through this, tourists have a chance to experience Africa’s traditions, languages, cuisine, tapestry, not forgetting its most sought-after natural landscapes, flora &fauna. For Africa to fully benefit from its tourism wealth, a significant opportunity lies in the economic benefits which intra-Africa tourism presents. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in intra-African tourism as countries on the continent seek to promote travel and exploration within their borders. This trend presents a myriad of opportunities for both tourists and the local economies, creating an integrated tourism market for all Africans. https://lnkd.in/dMCS_cFt

Supporting community tourism is crucial for various reasons, and I've consistently backed communities on numerous occasions: 1. Economic benefits-endorsing community tourism creates income and job opportunities for locals, bolstering the local economy's growth. 2. Cultural preservation-community tourism encourages cultural exchange, allowing visitors to appreciate local customs and traditions. 3. Community empowerment-by supporting community tourism, locals gain decision-making power and financial benefits from tourism activities. 4. Environmental conservation-community tourism often promotes eco-friendly travel practices, contributing to the preservation of natural resources. 5. Authentic experiences-community tourism offers visitors genuine experiences, enabling them to connect with locals and understand the destination better. 6. Social responsibility-embracing community tourism helps support local communities and improve their well-being. 7. Skill development-community tourism fosters the development of local skills and infrastructure for sustainable tourism management. 8. Community pride-community tourism instills a sense of pride and ownership in communities, motivating them to preserve their cultural heritage and natural resources.