How can we collaborate to highlight Ontario as the arts and culture destination we know it is? As the arts, culture, and tourism sectors look forward to reopening, this symposium presented conversations, keynote presentations, and panel discussions featuring leaders in cultural tourism in Ontario and from outside Canada.

Key people at festivals, cultural destinations, municipalities, and tourism organizations, as well as cultural placemakers, international thought leaders, and research experts, brought insights and expertise to the current realities and future possibilities for cultural tourism. This symposium provided thoughtful discussion, examples of how cultural tourism has changed amid the pandemic, inspiration, and actionable information as we prepare for what cultural tourism experiences will be like as people resume local, regional, national, and international travel. Whether you are new to the conversation or already well-versed in cultural tourism strategies, Now, into the Future: Cultural Tourism in Ontario provided inspiration, action, and excitement for what’s next.

Watch Recordings

Check out the full list of speakers: here.

Frederic Dimanche from the Ted Rogers School of Hospitality and Tourism Management dives into collaboration during reopening.

This panel asks tourism leaders to discuss what has been happening in their communities, and what they predict reopening will look like.

Louis-Etienne Dubois discusses how existing strategies appear limited in this particular instance, and highlights practical implications for destinations.

Joseph Cheer queries how the disparate notions of resilience, culture and human flourishing lie at the heart of travel, and embark on a virtual odyssey through the therapeutic landscapes of Japan.

Nik Nanos from Nanos Research leads us through a literary study of existing research, and highlights what we need to learn to support the success of our sectors.

This panelists discuss how sites are engaging audiences from near and far, and how are they planning on re-connecting with visitors once travel can resume.

Leaders talk about what has worked well to attract and engage visitors in the past, and what they have learnt over the last year that they will carry forward.

Learn how these regions have changed their focus during the pandemic, and what is next for these three Ontario destinations.

This presentation will bring together examples of initiatives that harness the creative potential of mobile populations in shaping places.


We acknowledge and thank the Province of Ontario and the Canada Council for the Arts for their support of this project. 

Logos of the Province of Ontario and the Canada Council for the Arts