Algonquin Park - Major Tourist Draw for Ontario Resort Operators

(EMAILWIRE.COM, January 24, 2007 ) Huntsville, Ontario -- According to Statistics Canada, tourism outpaced the country’s overall economy last year. Tourism’s gross domestic product (GDP) expanded 0.8% in the third quarter of 2006, twice the 0.4% pace posted in economy-wide GDP. It is further reported that much of the strength in the third quarter came from the hospitality industry. The popularity of Algonquin Provincial Park, a popular tourist destination, located in Ontario Canada, has made a significant impact on the Canadian economy as it attracts up to one million visitors to the area every year. This is significant since tourism is an extremely important industry in Canada. Considering that in 2002, the revenue from counter sale and gift shops alone at Canada’s nature parks was $123.3 million, the impact that provincial parks have had on local economies is staggering.Bruce Howell, cottage resort owner and operator of Colonial Bay Cottage Resort on Peninsula Lake, states that “Due to the fact that Algonquin Park is so well known world-wide, we get visitors coming to the area from all over the world. These people may never have heard of Muskoka or Huntsville before but they sure know about Algonquin Park. It’s a major internationally known brand that supports the Ontario resort sector,” adds Howell. Tourism to Algonquin Park, the oldest park in Ontario covers over 7,700 square kilometres of breathtakingly beautiful scenery and internationally renowned as one of Canada’s wilderness jewels, has spurred Canadian tourism making it outpace the country’s overall economy. While there are a limited number of private businesses operating within the park’s boarders, outside the park’s gates, resort operators, restaurants, gift and sporting good shops, and their employees depend on Algonquin Park’s visitors for their living and have seen a significant impact as tourism to this area has doubled Canada’s economy-wide GDP. Tourist spending in and around Algonquin Park is huge. According to a 2002 report by Margaret Bowman of the University on Waterloo, the average overnight or “Lodge” visitor to Algonquin Park spends over $230 a day. The average day visitor to the park spends just over $150 a day. Clearly, considering that there were approximately one million park visitors last year, the revenue visitors to Algonquin Park add to the local economy is substantial.Muskoka cottage resort owner and operator, Bruce Howell, of Colonial Bay Cottage Resort (http://www.colonialbay.com) on Peninsula Lake, reports that the large number of tourists Algonquin Park draws into the area is a windfall for local tourist operators. “Having Algonquin Park just a short drive down the highway from us [Colonial Bay Cottages] is of tremendous benefit to our business. Many of our guests plan their vacation entirely around Algonquin Park, and most of our guests visit the park at least once during their stay with us. It is a wonderful place especially for families. There is always something special to see or do at the park, no matter what the season,” says Howell. With the rise in nature tourism, Algonquin Park will continue to attract crowds and grow in popularity. It will also continue to be of significant importance to the local Muskoka economy and the economies of both Ontario and Canada.Colonial Bay Cottage Resort offers Muskoka cottage rentals on Peninsula Lake, close to Algonquin Park, Huntsville and Lake of Bays. This Ontario resort is perfect for a family vacation or short getaway. Only 2.5 hours from Toronto, our Muskoka cottage resort has a variety of on-site activities to compliment our traditional and deluxe self contained cottages and motel style rooms. For more information, please visit, http://www.colonialbay.com or call Bruce Howell at 1-800-916-2008.Distribution by http://www.first-page-seo.com and http://prnn.com.

Kevin Dill

hillaryalane@yahoo.com