New tourism strategy launched in Ontario community

Scugog Township gets its fair share of tourism, with visitors coming up to enjoy the picturesque Port Perry downtown, drive around the beautiful countryside, take in a cidery or brewery, drop a few dollars at the Great Blue Heron casino or two or fish in Lake Scugog.

Getting more tourists – and more tourist dollars to help the local economy – is the goal of the new Scugog Tourism Visitor Growth Plan, a coordinated strategy to guide sustainable tourism growth and strengthen the township’s “economic vitality” that was endorsed at Monday’s council meeting.

Tourism continues to be a major economic driver for Scugog. In 2024, downtown Port Perry welcomed more than 573,000 daily visits from 73,000 tourists, marking a 28 per cent increase over the previous year. Tourism delivers measurable economic benefits for local businesses, said Scugog Mayor Wilma Wotten, and by increasing visitor numbers, “we also increase our ability to attract future growth and investment opportunities.”

“With visitation on the rise, it is imperative to consider both community and tourism needs, plan responsibly and sustainably,” Wotten said. “This plan ensures we’re growing tourism in a way that reflects Scugog’s values and strengthens our community.”

Scugog offers a variety of experiences not only in downtown Scugog but also through its agri-tourism sector and the township is taking a proactive approach to ensure growth is well-managed, environmentally responsible, and aligned with community values.

The Visitor Growth Plan was developed through four facilitated sessions with a cross-sector Steering Committee, supported by Central Counties Tourism, and focuses on five strategic pillars:

• Embrace: Acknowledge and support Scugog as a tourism town
• Manage: The plan has clear leadership, and the stakeholders understand their roles
• Connect: Take an ‘all of Scugog’ approach to destination development
• Entice: Tell compelling stories of Scugog to motivate visitation
• Champion: Advocate for policies that support destination growth

The plan will guide tourism initiatives across the township over the next five years, supporting economic development, enhancing the visitor experience, and maximizing community benefits.