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Eastern Ontario businesses and community organizations will have an opportunity to learn how to benefit from the development of the Eastern Ontario Rail Trail Loop through a series of free workshops this fall.
The Ontario’s Highlands Tourism Organization says registration is now open for five in-person sessions being held between September and November. The workshops will be presented by Ontario By Bike and are aimed at tourism operators, business associations, municipal and economic development representatives, cycling groups and community organizations.
The 320-kilometre Eastern Ontario Rail Trail Loop will connect portions of the Cataraqui Trail, K&P Trail, Algonquin Trail and Ottawa Valley Recreational Trail across Eastern Ontario.
The project is intended to create a continuous off-road cycling loop by 2030. Organizers estimate the completed trail could attract additional visitors and generate about $65 million in direct spending in surrounding communities.
The workshops will cover the cycle tourism market, ways businesses can become more welcoming to cyclists and opportunities to become certified as a bicycle-friendly location through Ontario By Bike.
Participants will also discuss how local attractions, businesses and community stories can be combined into visitor experiences, while identifying service gaps and potential partnerships.
OHTO executive director Nicole Whiting says the workshops are an important next step in a project that has been community-driven from the beginning.
Ontario By Bike executive director Louisa Mursell says cycle tourists can provide a significant economic opportunity because they tend to spend more and stay longer than some other visitors.
The workshops are scheduled for Smiths Falls and Sharbot Lake on Sept. 14 and 15, followed by sessions in Portland on Sept. 15, Carleton Place on Nov. 9 and Calabogie on Nov. 10.
Registration is free, with advance registration requested.
More information and registration details are available through Ontario By Bike and the Ontario’s Highlands Tourism Organization.
(Steve Berard)
