Promoting tourism in Halton

Tourism is a major part of Halton's economic makeup, and it's a growing industry. In 2004, same-day and overnight visitors spent more than $185 million in Halton on tourism-related expenditures, including lodging, food and beverage, transportation, entertainment, and retail. That's up from $155 million in 2003 and $136 million in 2002. Halton is blessed with diverse tourism jewels, including the Royal Botanical Gardens and the Sound of Music Festival in Burlington; the Historic Village of Limehouse and the Georgetown Highland Games in Halton Hills; Mohawk Racetrack and Kelso Conservation Area in Milton; and Glen Abbey Golf Club and the Waterfront Festival in Oakville. Halton's natural geography, including the breathtaking Niagara Escarpment and Bruce Trail, also contributes to our attraction as a tourism locale. On July 11, Halton Region launched its Premier-ranked Tourist Destinations (PRTD) Project to help private and public tourism stakeholders understand how they can leverage these strengths and maximize their tourism potential. Halton Region is proud to be the leader and facilitator of this inter-jurisdictional initiative. The PRTD Project is being led by a steering committee comprising representatives from Halton Region, Tourism Burlington, the Oakville Economic Development Alliance and the Milton and Halton Hills Chambers of Commerce. These local tourism industry stakeholders and businesses, along with many others, are participating in the development, promotion and completion of a comprehensive assessment of Halton's tourism attributes and identifying opportunities for growth, partnerships and maximization of tourism derived revenue. The project, co-ordinated through Halton's Business Development Centre, will culminate in a final report and shared comprehensive database to be released in spring 2007.