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Tourism Planning at the Community Level HOST Saskatchewan Conference 2012

Tourism Planning at the Community Level HOST Saskatchewan Conference 2012. Watrous Manitou Marketing Group. March 2009, the Long Lake REDA was closed with the formation of Enterprise SK and the Enterprise Regions The area lost its Economic Development Officer

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Tourism Planning at the Community Level HOST Saskatchewan Conference 2012

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  1. Tourism Planning at the Community Level HOST Saskatchewan Conference 2012

  2. Watrous Manitou Marketing Group • March 2009, the Long Lake REDA was closed with the formation of Enterprise SK and the Enterprise Regions • The area lost its Economic Development Officer • In Spring 2010, An agreement was made between the Town, Village, and RM of Morris to form the Marketing Group and hire a Community Development Officer (CDO) • Commitment from all 3 municipalities in the promotion of Tourism and Economic Development

  3. Watrous Manitou Marketing Group • Mission: To create an environment that attracts sustainable population growth where citizens will take pride in calling the entire area their community. A community where natural and historic resources provide recreational and business opportunities for citizens and visitors.

  4. Watrous Manitou Marketing Group • Ran by a board of 7 Directors which includes representation from each one of the councils • Others members include residents and business owners • CDO is currently the single employee • Membership based – currently over 50 businesses and local organizations hold memberships.

  5. Perfect “storm” of 2010 • Our flagship attraction – Manitou Springs Hotel and Mineral Spa – had fallen in disrepair and was closed in April by the Health Region • A very wet spring and summer and heavy snow fall saw lake levels rise, nearly eliminating our beaches, wash out local roads, and threaten nearly 80 years of tourism infrastructure at Manitou Beach • But all was not lost…

  6. (re)Building our Brand

  7. (re)Building our Brand • Photo shoots (2010 & 2011) • Development of a yearly Visitor Guide • New messaging and slogan • Develop a comprehensive marketing plan • Exploration of new specific target markets • Solving a public relations problem • Developing a new Community Tourism Plan (last completed in 1989)

  8. Photography

  9. Visitor Guide • Yearly • Full gloss and Colour • Local distribution • Source of Community Pride • Keep it fresh!

  10. A New Message (From Roger Brooks - Destination Development International) • Take what makes you unique and market it! • “Sell the rapids not the river” • Market Experiences not Geography • What separates you from the rest?

  11. Unsinkable…

  12. Community Tourism Planning • With Spa re-opened, berm created along Beach shore to prevent flooding, new pavement, new messaging and brand, Regional Park expanding and seeing record visitation…Community Plan needed to be revisited • Began Consultations with Tourism SK in January, 2012 • Plan looks at Attractions, Businesses, Infrastructure, Hospitality, and Promotion

  13. Establishing a committee • Expand Planning Committee beyond WMMG (no more than 12 members) • Can be controversial - Have thick skin! • Committee had representation from the following groups: • RM, Past REDA President, Past Chamber President, Town of Watrous, RV of Manitou Beach, Danceland, Regional Park, Manitou Springs, past Marketing Association, Local Arts Community, Communities in Bloom, Four business owners

  14. Community Tourism Planning Steps • Establishing the Committee • Develop a Tourism Policy • Tourism Markets and Profiles – who is travelling to the area and where are they coming from • Listing your Primary and Secondary Assets • Listing your Concerns in the areas of Attractions, Tourism Businesses, Hospitality, Tourism Infrastructure, and Promotion

  15. Community Tourism Planning Steps (Cont’d) • Establishing Objectives based on your concerns • Develop Action Steps and rank them • Implementation • Evaluate and Re-evaluate (on-going)

  16. Objectives • Tourism Attractions • Succession Planning • Tourism Businesses • Enhancing Business Partnerships • Tourism Hospitality • Building Exception Visitor Experiences • Tourism Infrastructure • Signage • Highways, directional, local interpretive

  17. Objectives • Tourism Promotion • Meetings and Conventions Plan

  18. Launching the Plan • June 20, 2012, held a luncheon to launch the plan to the community

  19. Travel Media • December, 2011, Vacay.ca named Manitou Beach a Top 12 Destination to visit in 2012 • Invited their top editor and photographer to the community for a follow up story • MSN.ca named Manitou Beach a Top 10 Canadian Beach • Sent news releases around the province to let the know about the recent accomplishments • Local and provincial media outlets picked up the story

  20. Thank you! Brendan Manz Community Development Officer Watrous Manitou Marketing Group (306) 946-3327 brendan@watrousmanitou.com

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