Issue link: http://tourismwpg.uberflip.com/i/134953
Tourism Winnipeg will collaborate with stakeholders to grow the tourism industry through expansion and investment of strategic alliances, sustainable tourism practices, transportation services, infrastructure and unique neighbourhood offerings (i.e. downtown riverfront development celebrating Winnipeg as a river city, Canadian Museum for Human Rights, Upper Fort Garry Heritage Park and Interpretive Centre, Old St. Boniface, Broadway, University of Winnipeg's downtown redevelopment, Assiniboine Park Conservancy, etc.). Application of experiential tourism will focus upon the following elements: Create meaning through direct experiences Ensure that pre-departure trip planning and post-trip follow-up become a part of the visitor counselling process Draw people into local nature, culture and history Ensure the experience is personal and unique to each visitor GREEN TOURISM | SUSTAINABLE TOURISM The term green tourism, once referring to environmentally friendly travel, has become broader to incorporate full sustainable tourism principles. The objective of sustainable tourism is to retain the economic and social advantages of tourism development while minimizing any undesirable impact on the natural, historic, cultural or social environment. This is achieved by balancing the needs of visitors with those of a destination. Tourism Winnipeg will promote and support sustainable tourism practices, as there is growing interest in the impact travellers have on a destination regarding carbon emissions, conservation, waste management and water supply. Many stakeholders, including The Forks North Portage Partnership, Plug In Institute of Contemporary Art, FortWhyte Alive, Oak Hammock Marsh, the University of Winnipeg's Diversity Food Services and SEED Winnipeg Inc., etc. lead in the implementation of green practices. Tourism Winnipeg will recognize these efforts through the Tourism Winnipeg website and ongoing marketing and communication initiatives. Create authentic opportunities that allow for personal growth and expanding personal horizons Provide diverse experiences that contribute to a sense of personal accomplishment Create authentic, participatory experiences that share knowledge Encourage the meeting of different cultures, their problems and potential Share traditional ways of life Show experiences Provide personal enrichment, enlightenment, stimulation and engagement as motivators Attract markets to local merchandise Teach new skills or engage people in new activities EXPERIENTIAL TOURISM Developing tourism products and services that appeal to target markets is crucial as today's travellers seek more compelling experiences. Tourism products and services should engage visitors, tap into their passions, connect them with locals, increase social interaction and shared experiences, and provide opportunities to learn. Experiences include two elements: customer participation (ranging from passive to active) and connection or environmental relationship (ranging from absorption to immersion). These experiences should encompass a blend of entertainment, education, escapism and esthetics, and contain the following key experience-design principles: Theme the experience Harmonize impression with positive cues Eliminate negative cues Include "our stories" Tourism Winnipeg will collaborate with stakeholders to develop programs, such as industry workshops and roundtable discussions, that encourage industry partners to transform traditional products and services into unforgettable experiences through refreshed travel offers. CLUSTERING AND PACKAGING Product clusters bring together a range of complementary activities and services that meet the needs and expectations of a visitor. Clusters can be comprised of industry partners within and outside the tourism industry as well as inside and outside a geographic region. Working together creates new products, provides access to new markets, generates publicity and word-of-mouth advertising, and fosters knowledge sharing. While clustering brings together partners with complementary products, each partner sells its own experience separately. Mix in memorabilia Engage all five senses A Master Tourism Plan for Winnipeg | 2011-2015 | 2013 UPDATE Tourism Winnipeg will collaborate with industry partners to develop tourism experiences that capture themed clustering and packaging for Winnipeg and beyond. Unique selling propositions and promotional features that showcase a range of Winnipeg's 13