Tourism Management
Overview:
Tourism management planning helps the municipality to plan for and manage the busy summer visitor season. The annual Tourism Management Plan (TMP) guides the municipality in investing a portion of the Municipal Accommodations Tax (MAT) on improvements to community services and amenities.
The TMP usually includes initiatives related to parks, beaches, boat launches, washroom and garbage service, the Millennium Trail, accessibility improvements, transportation and wayfinding signage. It is created by a cross-departmental municipal team, in collaboration with tourism industry partners such as Visit The County, and is approved by Council each year.
Strategic Alignment:
Priority: Economic Development
Support a strong and diversified economy, providing meaningful options for people to live and work in The County.
Background information:
2025 Tourism Management Plan:
Specific actions in this year’s Tourism Management Plan include:
- A cycle of summer planning and evaluation meetings with internal and external stakeholders
- Consultation with the Accessibility Advisory Committee to allocate $7,500 to tourism-related accessibility upgrades
- Allocating $50,000 as matching funding for a grant that would support a “Made in the County” program to certify locally made products. (Grant application results pending)
- Continuing the $30,000/year service agreement with Uride Tech to ensure a guaranteed schedule of ridesharing services in Prince Edward County.
- Investing $35,000 in a summer transit enhancement, including weekend service along the Wellington to Picton corridor, with a connecting bus that travels between Bloomfield and Belleville
- Installing a DC fast electric vehicle charger in King Street parking lot (Picton) fully funded through federal and provincial grants
- Improving parks and washroom service by creating a supply depot in Picton area
- Continuing the invasive species/noxious weed management program along the Millennium Trail
- $15,000 budget for communications and signage repair, replacement, renewal and improvements across Prince Edward County