City focused on tourism sector.

Based on feedback from the private sector and the information they have compiled over the years, Kathy Ball, tourism economic development officer for Thunder Bay, is reaching out to a broader audience to let them know Thunder Bay is open for business.

"The intention here is to work on a combined effort on promoting Thunder Bay and area with one strategy as a whole, working together, and (understanding) how they link within each other," Ball explains.

She has broken the sector down into four main components: attraction in culture, meetings and conventions, group travel and retail tourism.

Within the sub-sector, Ball is developing plans to assist each sector draw more business, but at the same time help the overall tourism sector work in union to ensure successful results.

In attraction and culture, Thunder Bay will be marketed as a "premiere Canadian frontier" with Fort William Historical Park, Chippewa Park, hiking trails and museums being featured as anchor attractions, Ball explains.

Chippewa Park, a-270 acresite, has undergone major restructuring after 10 years of neglect. Iain Angus, secretary for Friends of Chippewa, is satisfied with the amount of visitors that came through the gate this summer.

"There was about a 31 per cent increase in attendance as measured by amusement ride sales," Angus recalls.

"We had 15,000 people at our celebration opening, which is the largest in many decades. Over all, the public has been very, very pleased with the work that we've done and certainly they are coming in droves," he adds.

Ball aims to attract more visitors to the area through trade shows in Milwaukee, Chicago and Winnipeg with an official document to be mailed out in April 2003.

They are also developing an attractions, culture and entertainment guide, which will be distributed at trade shows.

Meetings and conventions will be another focus with emphasis on three trade shows, planning guides and advertising. Ball is establishing a tour planner that will highlight businesses and facilities.

The recreational committee is investigating the possibility of luring regional and national sporting events to the area with the hopes that hotels, restaurants and retail outlets will benefit from the influx of visitors.

With the surge in marketing in all sub-sectors, Ball hopes that the initiatives will spark interest to the area.

"We won't know until 2005 whether the campaign has worked or not," Ball says.

Through a compilation of benchmarks, Ball will be able to determine what was effectual and what requires extra work. The only way that is done is through the sharing of information through private sector involvement.

By KELLY LOUISEIZE

Northern Ontario Business