Tourism Ontario shows its adventurous side

Canada by Alan Moore

Tourism Ontario shows its adventurous side

Group to push winter sports and spa breaks

WINTER sports, canoeing adventures and spa breaks are some of the new products on show at the Tourism Ontario stand next week.

Representatives from the Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership will be highlighting some of the winter season options now available in the province, which can be combined with shopping breaks in Toronto and Ottawa.

A spokesperson said: “Ottawa’s Winterlude Festival during the first three weeks of February is very popular with families.

“It includes ice carving, snow sculpting and skating on the Rideau Canal.”

The Ontario tourism partnership will also have details of new water-based summer holidays, arranged by the 13 operators that make up the Paddling Ontario international marketing alliance.

A new Web site, www.paddlingontario.com has product Web links.

Ontario Tourism has launched an Internet site at www.ontariotravel.net that includes details on tours, adventure breaks, fishing holidays, events and cruising options.

Another exhibitor at the show is Spas Ontario, which is launching its first Premier Spas in Ontario programme, showcasing the best facilities in the province.

Destination Quebec director Josephine Wiggall Lazarus said the province would be covering its whole range of products, including its year-round city-break potential, wildlife and adventure product, family touring, skiing and winter breaks.

Moving west, British Columbian delegates will be puffing out their chests with pride, after Whistler was voted the number one ski destination in the world by a Daily Telegraph readers’ survey.

British Columbia’s interior resorts such as Sun Peaks, Big White, Silver Star Fernie, Panorama, Kimberly and Kicking Horse will all be promoted at the show, as will the province’s rail touring and wildlife viewing product and golf courses. British Columbia was recently nominated undiscovered golf destination of the year by the International Association of Golf Tour Operators golf travel writers’ association.

Canada 3000 will be promoting its growing international and domestic route network. From Gatwick, the schedule includes twice-weekly services to Calgary and weekly flights to Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver. Manchester and Glasgow have weekly flights to Toronto.

Agent Alert

&#42 Holiday prize draw:Destination Quebec is running a prize draw to win a six-night holiday in Montreal and Quebec city. Entry forms are being faxed out to agents now. To enter, return the fax, requesting an Ontario and Quebec training video. The draw will take place at World TravelMarket.