Hospitality and Tourism Management Students Explore Agrotourism in Muskoka

HLOs:

At the beginning of October, students in TOUR3000: International and Canadian Tourism, guided by Professor Anke Foller Carroll, visited Johnston’s Cranberry Marsh at the Muskoka Lakes Farm & Winery. This hands-on excursion provided aspiring tourism professionals with invaluable insights into agritourism, a thriving sector within Ontario's domestic tourism market.

Transformed from a conventional farm into a year-round tourist attraction, Muskoka Lakes Winery boasts a diverse array of offerings. From skating trails to maple syrup harvest and wine-tasting sessions, the farm stands as a multifaceted gem but the focal point of its allure rests with the cranberry harvest - a visual spectacle that coincides with Muskoka's fall foliage.

During their visit, the students learned about the farming of cranberries, the state of the cranberry industry, and how the adoption of tourism helped the farm survive and rise to its current potential.

The visit also provided an opportunity for the students to savour wine tasting, capture the vibrant beauty of the cranberry bog for their socials and explore the country store for autumn-themed treats. The farm itself has received the title of "Canadian Signature Experience" from Destination Canada, the official government tourism marketing body, and was also the site of the for the finale of the seventh season of the television show The Amazing Race Canada, in 2019.

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