Photo by B. Shakyaver
Huron County is getting ready for a busy summer tourism season, with local officials expecting another strong year. The County’s Economic Development team says last year’s success is helping them prepare for the months ahead.
In 2022, around 1.2 million people visited Huron County. These visitors spent between $116 and $118 million, giving a major boost to the local economy. Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, tourism in the area stayed strong, and now visitor numbers are higher than they were before the pandemic.
Most people came to Huron County for the day, with about 55 percent making day trips. Around 44 percent stayed overnight. Day-trippers were more likely to return again later in the season, which helps keep tourism numbers high.
Most visitors are from Ontario. About 45 percent come from Southwestern Ontario and 41 percent from the Greater Toronto Area. This matches the traffic on the county’s tourism website, OntariosWestCoast.ca, where most users are also from Toronto, London, Kitchener, and Goderich. About 30 percent of website visitors came from the United States.
Looking ahead, the County hopes to grow and improve its events, especially those that focus on food and local experiences. With strong visitor interest and growing excitement for summer activities, Huron County is ready to welcome everyone back to Ontario’s West Coast.