Visitor Information, Navigation & Wayfinding Strategy

Background

In January 2020, Council approved various tourism initiatives to be funded from the Tourism Reserve. One of these initiatives was to develop a “Tourism Wayfinding and Visitor Interaction Strategy”. Chatham-Kent Tourism is committed to improving visitor experiences and proposed contracting the services of a consultant to review the industry needs. COVID’s impact on the tourism sector has been significant and the timing of proceeding with this strategy now aligns with supporting sector recovery and future-proofing the sector.

Purpose of the Plan

For the purpose of this plan, wayfinding is considered to be all possible methods by which visitors can be informed about tourism assets upon arrival to the Municipality of Chatham-Kent and while navigating the community and various tourism assets.

Mellor Murray Consulting along with Stempski Kelly Associates and Neumarkets Inc. have been hired to conduct the strategy and create an implementation plan. The plan will consider ways in which navigation is approached and include how and where visitors learn about tourism assets and move from one location to another. Methodology consideration examples will include but are not exclusive or limited to; visitor information centres, signage within CK, signage external to Municipality of Chatham-Kent boundaries, paper & brochures products (including maps), digital content and apps, and mobile (pop-up) visitor information.

The goals for this strategy are;

• Increase the economic impact of tourism within Chatham-Kent by promoting awareness of attractions, assets and experiences throughout the municipality.

• Provide a logical, intuitive, and easy-to-use system of navigating to/discovering destinations and attractions within and between the communities of Chatham-Kent.

• Enhance Chatham-Kent’s standing as a tourist destination by helping to increase traffic to business and tourism assets by showcasing the unique and differentiating factors of Chatham-Kent as a visitor destination.

• Use creative and innovative wayfinding assets to engage visitors and residents in exploring and discovering Chatham-Kent.

Overall, the strategy will create a distinct, unique and welcoming first impression for visitors, and will also support tourism operators and inform residents. This comprehensive and integrated wayfinding strategy will enhance and facilitate the visitor experience, while educating both visitors and residents about distinct and unique tourism assets throughout Chatham-Kent.

Engagement Opportunity

Tourism stakeholder engagement is vital to the success of the planning process for developing the plan.

This survey is now closed, thank you to those who took the time to complete it.

If you are interested in assisting us with your thoughts on this plan, we encourage you to follow this link to a survey for both tourism operators and residents in Chatham-Kent. All completed surveys will be entered into a random draw to win a $25 gift card from one of CK Tourism's Safe Travel Stamp operators.

You can also use your smart phone camera to scan the QR code below to take the survey as well.




Background

In January 2020, Council approved various tourism initiatives to be funded from the Tourism Reserve. One of these initiatives was to develop a “Tourism Wayfinding and Visitor Interaction Strategy”. Chatham-Kent Tourism is committed to improving visitor experiences and proposed contracting the services of a consultant to review the industry needs. COVID’s impact on the tourism sector has been significant and the timing of proceeding with this strategy now aligns with supporting sector recovery and future-proofing the sector.

Purpose of the Plan

For the purpose of this plan, wayfinding is considered to be all possible methods by which visitors can be informed about tourism assets upon arrival to the Municipality of Chatham-Kent and while navigating the community and various tourism assets.

Mellor Murray Consulting along with Stempski Kelly Associates and Neumarkets Inc. have been hired to conduct the strategy and create an implementation plan. The plan will consider ways in which navigation is approached and include how and where visitors learn about tourism assets and move from one location to another. Methodology consideration examples will include but are not exclusive or limited to; visitor information centres, signage within CK, signage external to Municipality of Chatham-Kent boundaries, paper & brochures products (including maps), digital content and apps, and mobile (pop-up) visitor information.

The goals for this strategy are;

• Increase the economic impact of tourism within Chatham-Kent by promoting awareness of attractions, assets and experiences throughout the municipality.

• Provide a logical, intuitive, and easy-to-use system of navigating to/discovering destinations and attractions within and between the communities of Chatham-Kent.

• Enhance Chatham-Kent’s standing as a tourist destination by helping to increase traffic to business and tourism assets by showcasing the unique and differentiating factors of Chatham-Kent as a visitor destination.

• Use creative and innovative wayfinding assets to engage visitors and residents in exploring and discovering Chatham-Kent.

Overall, the strategy will create a distinct, unique and welcoming first impression for visitors, and will also support tourism operators and inform residents. This comprehensive and integrated wayfinding strategy will enhance and facilitate the visitor experience, while educating both visitors and residents about distinct and unique tourism assets throughout Chatham-Kent.

Engagement Opportunity

Tourism stakeholder engagement is vital to the success of the planning process for developing the plan.

This survey is now closed, thank you to those who took the time to complete it.

If you are interested in assisting us with your thoughts on this plan, we encourage you to follow this link to a survey for both tourism operators and residents in Chatham-Kent. All completed surveys will be entered into a random draw to win a $25 gift card from one of CK Tourism's Safe Travel Stamp operators.

You can also use your smart phone camera to scan the QR code below to take the survey as well.




Page last updated: 17 May 2022, 08:38 AM