RTO4 to Distribute Funds in Stratford Area to Aid Tourism Recovery
Source：The Beacon Herald
From：Taiwan Trade Center, Toronto
Update Time：2022/08/15
A $5-million pool of recovery funds will be made available to Stratford-area tourism businesses hammered by losses during the pandemic in a recent federal government announcement. Tasked to grow the tourism economy in the Waterloo Region and Perth, Huron, and Wellington Counties, RTO4 will be responsible for distributing funds to relevant tourism businesses.
The cash infusion is a modest chunk of the $65.8 million the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) is sending to Indigenous Tourism Ontario and 11 regional tourism organizations in the province.
Although a sixth wave of COVID-19 cases has recently caused concern among public health officials in Ontario, the dropping of most pandemic-related public health restrictions last month has created optimism among tourism operators eager to see visitors return to the province unhampered for the first time since 2019.
MP Helena Jaczek, the minister responsible for FedDev Ontario commented "we are here for the tourism industry as we prepare to see the other side of this pandemic, and we continue to support tourism operators as they help our economy come back stronger".
Andrea Gardi, RTO4’s executive director, described the timing of the federal funds as “critical,” especially as business owners and communities who rely on tourism begin to consider strategic investments in product and destination development.
“This program will make an impact,” she said. “We’re happy to get here, very optimistic about the future, but as people often say, reopening does not mean recovery. There’s still a long way to go.”
In Stratford, where the city’s world-renowned festival theatre is expected to hold its first full season since 2019, Destination Stratford executive director Zac Gribble also applauded this week’s announcement.
“I’m confident that the creativity and perseverance we’ve already seen from our Stratford tourism businesses over the last two years will result in successful applications for new initiatives and experiences made possible by these funds,” he said.
With its share of the FedDev Ontario funds, Indigenous Tourism Ontario will also provide non-repayable contributions of up to $100,000 to Indigenous business, not-for-profit organizations and Indigenous communities that are investing in new or enhanced tourism experiences, according to a press release.
“This opportunity to facilitate investment into tourism product and destination development will help accelerate the recovery of the tourism economy within Ontario’s southwest and across the province,” said Kevin Eshkawkogan, Indigenous Tourism Ontario’s chief executive. “The type of support being offered through the Tourism Relief Fund will allow stakeholders to make strategic investments resulting in long-term growth.”
Source: https://www.stratfordbeaconherald.com/news/local-news/stratford-area-businesses-part-of-68-5m-tourism-recovery-effort