Edible Culture: Culinary Tourism in the Niagara Region
The Niagara Region, renowned for its wines and fresh fruit production, is one of the most established and successful culinary destinations in North America. The future, however, will bring more opportunity for expansion and investment in this fast-growing segment of the tourism industry.
Culinary tourism offers visitors an authentic local experience, allowing them to savour and consume food and drink from local regions. Culinary tourism can be found in both rural and urban settings, and may include restaurants, wineries, festivals, cooking schools and farmer's markets.
The Niagara region has a unique competitive advantage over other culinary destinations, given existing attractions and the many linkages possible with golf properties, heritage and cultural properties and the many other reasons to visit. Culinary activities complement and further diversify the local tourism market, as return visitors to the region are offered a unique set of experiences with each visit.
Culinary tourism makes business sense. It is a low-impact, high yield industry which is not affected by seasonal shifts and weather conditions. Almost all tourists dine out, and each meal is an opportunity to savour local cuisine. Travellers who seek these authentic culinary experiences stay longer in the communities they visit. Unlike other tourists who look for quick inexpensive meals, cultural tourists spend hundreds of dollars on meals - investments in their enjoyment which often exceed the amounts they spent on accommodation and transportation.
As culinary tourism evolves, partners such as farmers, wineries, and culinary colleges are growing more linked through their supply chain relationships. All have assumed distinct roles in preparing the region for further market readiness, and they work together to create unique experiences and moments for the visitor. Essential education and training resources are deployed in the Niagara region to build and maintain a strong culinary tourism industry.
The Ontario wine industry currently employs more than 5,000 people, and the Wine Council of Ontario predicts it will reach more than 13,500 people by 2020. The region is prepared for the growth, thanks in part to Niagara College's an award-winning teaching winery, with Canada's first and only Graduated Certificate in Wine Business Management.
The college's Culinary Institute also boasts an outstanding reputation, offering a wide-range of diploma and degree options for those seeking employment in the culinary tourism industry. The college's open dialogue with industry partners assists with curriculum development and ensures graduates are up-to-date on new trends, skills and techniques.
In keeping with the localised theme of culinary tourism, Niagara College ensures all of its hospitality students are well-versed representatives of the region. To graduate, the students must successfully complete the "I know Niagara" certification course which educates them on local history, agriculture and wine production.
“One of the best advantages of doing business in Niagara is that we have a well-educated and specialized work force. We are proud to have a role in producing market-ready professionals" said David Veres, Dean, Hospitality and Tourism Division, Niagara College.
The hospitality division graduates 1,000 students annually, and most students - ranging from front-line staff such as chefs and bakers to degree-program graduates ready for management-level positions - find immediate employment in the region upon graduation.
The Niagara region's culinary tourism sector is making its mark on the national and international stage, but increased investment will speed the region's ascent to the highest levels of international acclaim.
For more information on tourism investment opportunities throughout Ontario, please visit: www.investinontario.com/tourism/regionalinvest.asp.