An area economic group is planning a new program to help kickstart local tourism.
A group consisting of leaders from Flin Flon, Creighton and Denare Beach has created what it calls an “experiential tourism accelerator program”, a multi-step plan meant to help build on and establish new possible tourist draws to the area and help get more eyes on existing businesses and initiatives.
The project is part of the FDC Regional Economic Development Commission umbrella, a business starter program funded by local leadership in Flin Flon, Denare Beach and Creighton (hence the acronym name). The program is open to 10 applicants, who will move through a multi-step plan over several months to help create a unique, interactive experience for visitors.
Traditional tourism, according to a package released by the FDC group, includes sightseeing and observing places or events. The new program is not designed for that - instead, the program is aimed at increasing what it calls “experiential tourism”, tourism based on experiences, doing things, interactivity and immersion in community, culture, people and traditions. That is the goal of the program, according to the package - to start new experiences for people coming to Flin Flon.
Through the program, applicants will have three ordered steps to complete within four months from the start of the program - a design phase, an in-community marketing phase and an action phase, conducted with help from consultant Nancy Arsenault, a B.C.-based tourism professional.
Following that first four months, further steps will be variable in time and training. The next two steps are “piloting” - taking the lessons and ideas from the first three steps and putting them into practice - and digital content capture, the action of recording and sharing the new ideas with the world via social media.
The program carries no cost, according to the FDC.
Interested groups can contact regional tourism officer Emily Roberts-Young at [email protected], through social media using @discoverflinfloncreighton or through the FDC website at investfdc.ca/discover.
