Tourism Development - Resident Sentiment Survey (RSS) AVAILABLE September 11, 2023 to November 12, 2023

We look forward to your participation in the 2nd Annual RSS. The goal is to continue to collect resident opinion on the visitor economy (tourism) to help inform decision-making around developing the visitor economy and managing the Haliburton Highlands as a premier travel destination. In 2022, 629 residents – full-time and seasonal – participated in the survey, which was online for a total of two weeks. This year we have extended the survey period to provide ample time for residents to participate. The survey will be live on September 11, 2023 and will stay open until November 12, 2023. With the completion of the first annual survey, we have a measurable starting point that we can both refer to and build from as we develop sustainable, responsible, and community-based tourism practices where all stakeholders in the community have a say.

Key objectives of RSS:

• Engaging a breadth and diversity of residents
• To gage resident's attitudes and opinions on the visitor economy
• To gather insight on desired actions related to the visitor economy in the future
• To benchmark and track resident sentiment about the visitor economy over time

Your continued input is extremely important when it comes to how we manage Haliburton Highlands as a destination, as any decisions made about tourism and how we develop it – including the infrastructure and programs designed to support it– may provide very real benefits to your quality of life.

This community-based approach to tourism was first identified in the County’s Destination Management Plan (DMP). In fact, it was flagged as a priority because tourism – and specifically tourism dollars – play such a vital role in the overall economic and social success of our community.

Research shows that visitors don’t return to the same destination to feel like tourists. They return because they want to feel like they’re part of a community. Optimizing that connection with the community is the foundation of this DMP. The most important goal for any destination management plan is to drive home the idea that community isn’t something we have…it’s something we do. To build stronger communities based on what residents want, the first step is to understand their goals and values, and to obtain that information from real-time data. That’s why organizations of all sizes are developing resident sentiment surveys that provide the necessary data to benchmark, track, and address evolving public opinion year-over-year.

To take the 2nd Annual RSS, please click HERE

The 2nd Annual RSS will be live on September 11. 2023. We encourage you to share the survey far and wide.