Funding Resources

Resources are available on this webpage to support you in writing applications for funding with relevant data and insights that can be incorporated into your applications and assistance in finding available funding programs.

***Ontario’s Southwest is here to support your application efforts, and the information provided below is updated on a regular basis. Using any of the information on your funding applications is done so at your risk, and does not affiliate Ontario’s Southwest with your application***

Key Data & Insights

    • 8,430,288 visitors were welcomed in 2021.

    • 75.7% of visitation is from same day visitors.

    • Visiting friends and family is the main purpose for visiting the region (3,588,266 visitors) followed by pleasure (2,618,879 visitors).

    • The average age of adult visitors is 48.4 years old.

    • Visitation by season was:

      • 11% from January to March

      • 16% from April to June

      • 49% from July to September

      • 24% from October to December

    *All information is based on the most recent data obtained for Ontario’s Southwest by the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport in 2021.

    • Item In 2021, total visitor spending was $1,073,536,553.

    • The average spend per person is $127, with same-day visitors spending on average $90 per person each visit and overnight visitors spending on average $244 per person for each visit.

    • Overnight visitors accounted for 47% and same-day visitors accounted for 53% of total visitor spending.

    • Spending by season was:

      • 5% from January to March

      • 8% from April to June

      • 67% from July to September

      • 20% from October to December

    *All information is based on the most recent data obtained for Ontario’s Southwest by the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport in 2021.

    • In 2023, the population was 1,622,658.

    • The population is projected to be 1,671,110 in 2024.

    * Information is obtained from Ontario population projects by the Ministry of Finance.

To gain data and insights that are more specific to your organization and to protect data ownership and competitive aspects, custom data reports are available to industry stakeholders upon request including:

  • Demographic data of the area of your operation to illustrate facts on population, education, income, housing, labour, and a map of the area. 

  • Demographic data of the target market intended in the application, includes facts on population, education, income, housing, labour, and a map of the area. 

  • Visitor origin, data illustrating where visitors are coming from within your DMO catchment. 

  • Segmentation, analysis of potential market size for a new product/service (USA and CAD).

  • Segmentation, analysis of your current visitors by providing postal code data (USA and CAD).

Email Ana Baxter, the Manager of Research & Strategic Partnerships, with your request. Please consider that it will take a minimum of 5 business days to fulfill requests.

Request a Letter of Support

Click below to request a letter of support from Ontario’s Southwest. You may use it as a tool when submitting applications regarding funding opportunities. Please note that we usually require 5 business days to complete requests.

Looking for more funding opportunities?

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