Lac du Bonnet tourism plans come too late to save local shop
CBC
Gift shop owner Lita Toms says her business in Lac du Bonnet is struggling, largely because local governments have failed to craft an effective tourism strategy.
Located on Second Street in the heart of the lakeside town, Manitoba Made showcases products created in the province, with most of its sales coming from tourists.
"I am planning to close the store on Dec. 21, a little bit because of the economy, and [I'm] just not sure I want to rough it out any longer," she said.
Toms said while inflation is partly to blame for keeping people from visiting Lac du Bonnet, she also thinks the town and rural municipality haven't done enough to spread the word about the area's natural beauty and small-town charm.
"People often will say, 'Where is Lac du Bonnet?'" she said. "People know where Gimli is, right?"
She said while Lac du Bonnet has a lot in common with the touristy lakeshore town of Gimli, that community in the Interlake makes a much greater effort to promote its festivals, restaurants and shops.
WATCH | Shopkeeper says her store is closing as Lac du Bonnet stalls on tourism:
"I've been at fairs in Winnipeg where I've seen people specifically sitting at a table promoting Gimli," Toms said. "Why don't we do that?"
Lac du Bonnet could also do better by promoting itself on social media and by building more places to stay, she said.
"We definitely need a lot more temporary housing," Toms said. "The hydro workers and the mine workers are pretty much the ones that are filling up the Airbnbs right now."
A new hotel called Lac House just opened up on the outskirts of town, but the rural municipality admits lodging is scarce.
Reeve Loren Schinkel hopes that a handful of new businesses popping up around town will help get the ball rolling for tourism.
"That development then creates the synergies for other businesses to come in," Schinkel said.
"We've talked about a restaurant, we've talked about Tim Hortons, we've talked about hotel ownership," the reeve said.
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Gift shop owner Lita Toms says her business in Lac du Bonnet is struggling, largely because local governments have failed to craft an effective tourism strategy.
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