Visit the County, a program to boost tourism in Prince Edward County, has revealed their plans for 2024.
During Thursday’s committee of the whole meeting, Visit the County Board Chair Rebecca Mackenzie gave a deputation to council members, explaining Visit the County’s plans and priorities for the coming year.
Mackenzie’s presentation highlighted her organization’s use of digital marketing to entice a broader audience to vacation in the county. Some of their initiatives for the upcoming year are a targeted push at international tourism, enticing New York and Vermont residents to drive in for a visit.
Visit the County is also preparing a new website to provide info on and refer potential visitors to attractions and accommodations around the county, in an effort to encourage longer stays and more tourist spending.
The focus on digital marketing in 2024 came under criticism from Councillor Roy Pennell, who suggested that a lack of printed media such as pamphlets might be hurting their efforts, particularly in drawing in tourists passing through other nearby municipalities like Belleville and Quinte West.
“I certainly appreciate everything that you’re doing. But I still believe there’s a market out there that is being missed by there not being that material available,” said Councillor Pennell.
Mackenzie assured council that the digital marketing materials were more cost effective, could reach a wider audience, and would bring in more tourists than investing in and distributing printed materials.
The committee accepted the deputation, but took no action at this time.
