Northern tourism groups against financial merge

Two Nothwestern Ontario tourism groups are fighting to stay separate, after being told they're funding would be merged back in December.

The Ontario Ministry of Tourism and Recreation had planned to realign the North of Superior Tourism Association and Sunset Country into one large tourism area. But officials with each tourism group say the fiscal realignment would be a huge mistake, and that Northwestern Ontario would suffer because of it.

NOSTA executive director Don Pearl said both organizations have specific needs in their regions, and that trying to market them together would be challenging and detrimental to each organization.

NOSTA has been lobbying against the merging of the funds since the announcement was made. Pearl says a final decision is expected in the next couple of months.

Meanwhile, a NOSTA membership meeting continues to face delays. The last annual general meeting in December featured what appeared to be major infighting, and failed to result in any new board members being elected.

Pearl says NOSTA's next meeting may be held sometime in April.