As Ontario prepares to celebrate Chinese New Year, the Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership Corporation (OTMPC) are preparing for a busy year in China. Following a series of orientation workshops for media in January, the OTMPC is beginning to strengthen their presence in one of their most important tourism markets.
Laywah Ang, Media Coordinator, Asia Pacific, OTMPC, said, “Our experience at China International Travel Mart (CITM) 2006 was so positive that we wanted to start building on this and the work we have done previously in this market. China is a key market for us and will be even more so in the years to come.” She added, “Ontario is the must-see destination in Canada and we will be working hard this year to build knowledge and awareness about our unique and exciting province.”
OTMPC plans for 2007 include participation in China’s main trade shows, Guangzhou International Travel Fair (GITF) in March and CITM 2007 in November, media familiarization trips and extension of their Chinese website, to name just a few of the activities that are planned.
In January, the OTMPC took part in a series of orientation workshops for media in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, in partnership with the Canadian Tourism Commission (CTC) and Provincial organizations, Tourism British Columbia and Travel Alberta. The workshops were held with the main aim of strengthening the general knowledge and understanding of the tourism products of each participating Province.
Laywah Ang, Media Coordinator, Asia Pacific, OTMPC, said, “Workshops are a great way of building and maintaining relationships with key media, as well as strengthening media knowledge of our tourism products. We are planning specific workshops for more media in the future so that media who could not come this time will also have a chance to take part in the future.”
While the OTMPC focuses on activities taking place in China, back in Ontario preparations are underway for welcoming the Year of the Pig. From February 16 to 18, Toronto will host the largest Chinese New Year festival in Canada, where there will be plenty to do, see, taste and experience. Many visitors return every year to partake in the festival atmosphere and to enjoy an exceptional cultural experience. Everyone is eager to sample the abundant Asian food delicacies, purchase New Year gifts and to watch the spectacular stage performances. Other activities include traditional Lion dances and Kung-Fu demonstrations, displays of Chinese Canadian historic exhibits, an international arts and crafts bazaar and much more.
From February 6 to March 9, 2007, the famous Bata Shoe Museum in Toronto will also be celebrating the New Year. All those born in the year of the pig will be allowed to enter the museum free of charge. However, this offer is only for humans who can prove that they were born in the Year of the Pig: no four-legged visitors will be admitted!
Emanuele Lepri, Director of the Museum, said, “One of the most enjoyable aspects of living in this multicultural city is that events such as the Spring Festival are celebrated not only by the Chinese, but also Torontonians of many different backgrounds. Over the past couple of years, we have started partnering with the Chinese community to host cooking classes, musical events and performances, and attendees come from all over, proving cross-cultural appeal.”
Also in honor of the changing year, the Museum is adding a number of rarely seen artifacts to its exhibition Watched by Heaven, Tied to Earth: Summoning Animal Protection for Chinese Children. The exhibition features playful and charming garments for Chinese children. The artifacts newly on display, some of which will be shown for the first time, will focus on the Year of the Pig.
Robin Garrett, CEO of OTMPC, said “Events and activities such as those seen at the Lunar New Year Festival in Toronto and Bata Shoe Museum, will be held all over Ontario to celebrate Chinese New Year. Ontario is a truly unique destination with a strong connection to China and it is our aim that OTMPC activities in China this year will attract more and more visitors from China to see all Ontario has to offer for them.”
(China.org.cn February 7, 2007)