Destination & Funding
Industry and Trade
Tourism Thunder Bay uses research and industry data to deliver a market-driven strategy. We aim to foster a successful tourism industry through increasing visitation to the city and region, delivering the best possible experience for the visitor and increasing the positive economic impact on the community.
If you are looking to start or expand a tourism business, event, or project we administer the CEDC Tourism Development Fund with tax revenue collected by the Municipal Accommodation Tax. The CEDC Tourism Development Fund consists of two funding streams; one for tourism event support and growth, and the other for tourism product development projects. The program provides financial support to tourism events that attract out-of-town visitors and projects that enhance, create, or improve tourism experiences and opportunities in the City of Thunder Bay.
Tourism Thunder Bay is a division of the Community Economic Development Commission (CEDC), the city’s lead economic development agency. The CEDC provides entrepreneur support, business development, business retention and expansion, exporting advice, community marketing, and investment attraction. As well, the CEDC has funding programs to assist with business startup and expansion. Learn more about the CEDC today
Benefits to Partners
Take advantage of all of the partnership opportunities available with Tourism Thunder Bay. We reach millions of potential visitors, travel media, meeting planners, and tour operators every year and they are all looking for fantastic experiences. It is our goal to make your business that experience for the 500,000+ visitors we had last year and the millions more that will come in the future.
We want to ensure the success of your business; this is an integral part of the overall success of the tourism industry.
Let us help connect you to new customers, amplify your marketing efforts, introduce you to new markets and provide resources to help you grow your business and improve your bottom line.
The benefits of partnership include:
- visitthunderbay.com – all partners receive a free, basic business directory listing on the Official Tourism Thunder Bay website. Additional paid website advertising opportunities are available.
- Experience guide – The Official Thunder Bay Visitor Guide with 65,000 copies distributed annually and thousands more viewed online. Additional paid advertising opportunities are available.
- Brochure distribution – partners are able to have their brochures and other printed marketing materials distributed through our local visitor centres.
- Media exposure – Tourism Thunder Bay manages a robust Travel Media Program, and this could be your opportunity to share your experience with the world. Contact us to submit a story idea and learn how to work with travel media once they arrive.
- Tourism calendar – partners are able to submit free event listings to be included in the Official Tourism Calendar.
- Insights and advice – Tourism Thunder Bay staff are experts in the tourism and marketing industries. We can help guide you and answer your questions about marketing, social media, customer service training, funding applications, event support and much more.
How we can Help
For existing tourism partners, we offer a variety of programs and services to increase your business including marketing partnership programs, workshops, and training opportunities.Â
Tourism Thunder Bay invites you to explore our programs and contact us to participate today.
