ONTARIO Tourism has launched 17 itinerary modules for the UK self-drive market in an effort to increase the number of themed routes available from Toronto.
Marketing manager Barbara Hladysh said: “We have introduced a series of short-duration ideas with our regional partners which receptives or tour operators can use as components for a trip.
“They are year-round and can help to build an itinerary on a modular basis to which accommodation can be added, as well as giving an idea of travelling times.”
They range from two nights/three days to five nights/six days covering the southwest of the province, the north, east and Toronto area.
Examples include the Southern Tip Circle Tour from Windsor, taking in Lake Erie; the Bruce Peninsula; Niagara; Cottage Country itinerary; and Eastern Ontario Beach Town Tour. Other themes include an historical route, frontier wilderness, North of Lake Superior and the neighbourhoods of Toronto.
Another suggestion is a three-night tour around the Haliburton Highlands and Kawartha Lakes area, where a new aboriginal initiative was launched this month.
Called the Kawartha Lakes Spirit Walks, partners include First Nation communities such as Hiawatha, Curve Lake and Alderville, as well as Petroglyphs Provincial Park and the Canadian Canoe Museum.
A spokesman for Spirit Walks said: “A package can range from tours of exhibits and sacred places to traditional meals using indigenous foods and conversations with aboriginal artists about their work.”
In another regional development, the Ontario Tourism Network has been formed comprising over 100 members including accommodation suppliers, attractions and restaurants. It is a private co-operative marketing organisation – part of The Networks of North America – and has published a 1999/2000 group tour manual.
OTN president Janice Schuyler said: “Ontario is a complex and diverse province with an enormous wealth of high-quality tourism product.
“The new manual divides this huge area into manageable tourism destinations so tour planners can easily create some interesting itineraries.
“If they prefer to use the services of an inbound receptive operator to organise their programmes, Cantours – one of Ontario’s largest destination companies – can assist them. More than 15 of its packages are highlighted in the manual.”