May 30, 2016 - Tourism Thunder Bay invites local residents to help celebrate Tourism Week in Thunder Bay by getting to know our own city better and being good tourism ambassadors.

Residents are encouraged to visit the recently renovated Terry Fox Visitor Center on Highway 11/17 E, from May 30 - June 5.  Meet our local travel professionals, learn more about events and attractions this summer, pick up a copy of our 2016 Visitor Experience book and enter for a chance to win great local attraction and event admissions, and hotel stays to help you reconnect.

Thunder Bay is quickly becoming regarded as one of Canada's premier outdoor cities. Living on the shore of the planet's largest freshwater lake and steps to the world's largest contiguous forest, with a cultural history thousands of years in the making is something we should all be proud of and share. Our area's world renowned parks and protected areas woven with our eclectic urban attraction, events and culinary scene offer more reasons for visitors to plan a visit, stay longer once they're here, and share their positive experiences in a digital world.  

"With almost one sixth of our visitors coming here to visit friends and family, local residents are powerful tourism ambassadors to help encourage visitation and to show all there is to see and do in and around our city," said Thunder Bay Tourism Manager Paul Pepe. "A visitor that stays longer and experiences more leaves a larger economic impact in our community. These positive experiences often become digital content to help us tell great tourism stories."

Campaign and contest partners include Fort William Historical Park, Ontario Parks, Valhalla Inn, Townplace Suites by Marriott, Holiday Inn Express and Suites, Sailsuperior.com, Lake Superior Visits, Outdoor Skills and Thrills, Thunder Bay Bluesfest, Thunder Bay Community Auditorium, Thunder Bay Art Gallery and the City of Thunder Bay.  Each of these organizations has generously donated event and attraction admissions and overnight stays to this local campaign to help get residents reacquainted with our city.

Tourism is worth over $600 million to Northwest Ontario's economy and over $170 million in Thunder Bay.  With over 1,300 business relying on tourism for income and providing full-time employment for thousands, it is an important contributor to a healthy diversified economy.

The Terry Fox Visitor Centre is open seven days a week from 9 am to 5 pm.

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Contact: Paul Anthony Pepe, Manager - Tourism Thunder Bay, 807-625-3880

 

"Be a Local in The Know" Launch Sponsors

Fort William Historical Park - Three offers of General Admission for Two Adults

Ontario Parks - Two $20 gift cards for use at any area Ontario Park

Thunder Bay Art Gallery - Three offers of General Admission for Two Adults

Thunder Bay Blues Festival - Three offers of Weekend Passes for Two Adults

Thunder Bay Community Auditorium - Four offers - Two tickets each to see Weird Al Yankovic,  Billy Currington, Dallas Smith and Dirty Dancing - The Musical

Sailsuperior.com - 90-minute Harbour Tour for two

Lake Superior Visits - Two Hours Guiding Service

Outdoor Skills and Thrills - Rock Climbing Instruction

Tourism Thunder Bay - Four admissions for our June 14 City Motor Coach Tour

Valhalla Inn - Overnight Stay

Townplace Suites By Marriott - Overnight Stay

Holiday Inn Express and Suites - Overnight Stay