One-Tank Trip for April 11/20
(c) By Jim Fox
These are tough times for publicists and employees
of tourism agencies promoting all the fun times and scenic locations that we
hope to sometime visit again.
Now that most people are confined to their
rooms and backyards, tourism promotion has turned virtual to see and hear what we’re
missing.
It’s sort of like today’s answer to having
friends over to see slides (usually dozens and dozens of scenery and blurry
images) from their trips.
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| The historic Elora Mill built in 1832 is in a picturesque river-view location. |
These are unprecedented times for day-trips
and travel, reflecting a new strategy for public relations agencies such as Enterprise
Canada.
“People feeling cooped up during the current
public health emergency can get a virtual taste of some great travel
destinations in southwestern Ontario without leaving the safety of their homes,”
said Enterprise’s Stephen Murdoch.
Virtual tours “help people expand horizons
during social distancing,” said associate Courtney De Caire.
“Dozens of attractions and businesses in
popular travel spots like Stratford, Elora and Fergus and Guelph have posted
Google 360 tours and Virtual Experiences to allow anyone with a computer or
mobile device to do some sightseeing,” she added.
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| A virtual view of Elora Raft Rides is just like being there. |
Travel plans in disarray
First some statistics: there’s a big impact
the virus outbreak is having on long-term travel
plans.
Caddle, called a Canadian
mobile marketplace, finds in its daily opinion surveys of 10,000 people that
only 33 per cent plan to travel overseas the way they used to.
It also found that:
- Almost 90 per cent of
Canadians with a vacation planned this summer expect it to be disrupted.
- Forty
per cent agree they will take more vacations within Canada
instead of going overseas.
- Older Canadians will be
most reluctant to travel overseas after the pandemic.
- More than 40 per cent
said they will no longer travel overseas the way they used to after the
coronavirus threat is over.
“This data shows that the
COVID-19 pandemic could have a profound and long-lasting impact on the way
Canadians travel,” said Caddle’s Ransom Hawley.
“Not only are Canadians
writing off their travel plans for summer 2020, but they are starting to
re-evaluate the kinds of trips they will take in the future,” he added.
If
you go (whenever):
Enterprise offers a “few cool places to
visit online to expand your horizons when you’re stuck at home or to help plan
future day trips when it’s safe to travel again.”
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| Virtual experiences are offered of the Stratford Festival Costume Warehouse. |
- The
Stratford Festival Costume Warehouse is filled with 50,000 costumes, 10,000
pairs of footwear and thousands of accessories and decorative items.
It offers a behind-the-scenes look into the theatre
company and its treasures. stratfordfestival.ca/WatchandExplore/BehindTheScenes
- Stratford
Festival Presents is an opportunity to see the theatre company’s performances
on CBC Gem.
These
include King Lear, Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, The Tempest and more from recent
seasons. gem.cbc.ca
- The
Elora Mil and Spa has a virtual tour inside the recently refurbished 1832 mill,
as well as its grounds overlooking the river.
With a mix of history and natural scenery,
Elora is on the banks of the Ravine and Grand rivers and has historic buildings.
eloramill.ca
- Elora
Raft Rides shows fun options to soak up the scenery of the Grand River
including English gondola rides and rafts to travel over 36 gentle rapids and
mini-waterfalls, under four bridges, navigate around islands, explore ruins and
discover ancient fossils. eloraraftrides.com
- Wellington
County Museum and Archives are housed in the former House of Industry and
Refuge built in 1877 in a scenic location. wellington.ca/en/museum-and-archives.aspx
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