Tourism
The Severn Sound’s natural and cultural amenities are attracting increasing numbers of part‐time residents. There is potential for the watershed to capitalize on this, such that tourism will contribute a major portion of meaningful employment to residents.
In the Severn Sound watershed:
- Tourism includes outdoor recreational opportunities, natural environment and historical destinations. Tourism and recreation is a large and growing economic sector in the watershed. It includes both attraction-oriented travel and seasonal residence activity.
- Tourist attractions include our watershed’s villages and downtowns, antique and farm markets, parks, forest lands, golf courses, snowmobile, skiing, hiking and biking trails, freshwater lakes and beaches.
- Culinary tourism is most strongly marketed in Muskoka. In fact, Muskoka has been designated a Provincial Culinary Tourism Destination.
- Ecotourism is not an explicit focus of tourism marketing or policy, though indirectly it is because of the outdoor nature of many of the tourist activities. Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre and the Georgian Bay Eco Museum are exceptions.
- Improving cultural and religious-focused tourism has significant economic potential.
- Several agencies have influence over and/or participate in the tourist industry in the watershed, including: