As Northern Ontario’s tourism businesses are grappling with the global shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Destination Northern Ontario (DNO), announced the creation of a virtual “Campaign of Hope” to show visitors that Northern Ontario is a place worth waiting for.
he #DreamON campaign aims to connect with seasonal visitors using inspiring images, stories, and updates from the places they cherish, while inviting them to share their own memories. Canadians are looking for positive stories. In Canada, web searches for “good news” spiked in early April and remain at their highest levels since 2004 when record-keeping began.
Destination Northern Ontario believes positive feel-good stories will help us look forward to and focus on getting the tourism industry back on track.
"This campaign addresses that need by sharing stories that help to connect local businesses, and those that patronize them, with the loyal travelers waiting to visit," says a news release. "It also lets potential visitors know that the hosts in northern Ontario are ready to welcome them safely once tourism reopens."
The campaign begins with an invitation: Join the #DreamON Campaign of Hope and contains three key elements.
- Tourist operators in northern Ontario to join the campaign and post their own inspiring stories, photos, and videos with the hashtag #DreamON. These will be shared on social media.
- Loyal guests, residents, and lovers of all things northern Ontario are invited to participate, encouraging them to share their stories and photos about their best trips to northern Ontario. These stories will be shared on social media using the hashtag #DreamON.
- A series of in-depth, inspiring stories, first-person accounts will be posted on its websites, and sharing them via social media using the hashtag #DreamON.
Additionally, the campaign will support local businesses with a virtual marketplace resource. For each city or region in northern Ontario, the virtual marketplace will provide a comprehensive, updated list of open businesses offering in-store service, curbside pickup, or delivery, facilitating an awareness of businesses operating in the region.
As travel restrictions continue to evolve, and as the tourism industry eventually begins its recovery efforts, Destination Northern Ontario and its partners in the #DreamON campaign will continue to deliver positive stories, photos, and videos to keep people inspired, and to keep northern businesses front-of-mind when travel reopens.
