Ontario plays host to thousands of festivals and events each year in every corner of the province. These dynamic events not only contribute to the quality and diversity of community life, but they also provide significant opportunities for economic activity and tourism leading to increased employment, tourism visits and spending, and infrastructure development.
Statistics Canada data indicates that attending festivals or sporting events was part of 3.9 million overnight trips in Ontario in 2010. Over one third of these trips or 1.4 million were taken by visitors from outside the province. According to the Discovering Ontario report, events inject an estimated $100 million to $400 million in new money to Ontario from out-of-province overnight visitors.
Whether residents or visitors to the province, some people make attending events their reason to travel, while others include events as one of many activities on their trip. At the top of the list of festival and events motivators that drive overnight pleasure trips in North America are exhibitions and fairs (6.3 million), music (5.6 million) and food and drink festivals (5.1 million), according to the Travel Activity and Motivation Study.
"Festivals and events mean business for everyone," says Gary Masters, Executive Director, Festivals and Events Ontario. "They are a drawing card to attract visitors into local communities. Once visitors are there, they have to sleep somewhere, eat somewhere and often want to check out local attractions."
Each of Ontario's 13 regions has annual festivals and events, ranging from sporting events to wine and culinary to arts, culture and heritage. Annual events that have been in operation for years have become major tourist attractions and economic stimulators for their region. The Rogers Bayfest music festival in Sarnia and the Niagara Wine Festival are just two examples of festivals that annually attract more than 75,000 people across Canada, the U.S. and internationally and generate more than $6 million in visitor spending.
For more information about festivals and events in your region, visit www.festivalsandeventsontario.ca or download the Discover Ontario mobile app at www.ontariotravel.net/mobile.