Town seeks to capture cross-border traffic.

• Author: Scarcello, Frank
• Position: Fort Frances commences tourism study

The community of Fort Frances has launched an extensive study to identify tourism opportunities.

Re-Inventing Fort Frances is expected to generate some makeover ideas and strategies to make the town more tourist friendly.

The study will cost $130,000 and is funded by all three levels of government. A tourism development committee has been active for the last year and recently selected a Winnipeg consulting firm to conduct the study.

"We have over a million people cross our border into Canada annually; we estimate approximately half of them are tourists," says Susan Bodnarchuk, chairperson for the committee.

Capturing some of that traffic and getting visitors to stay for a while is one of the goals, says Mayor Glenn Witherspoon. He says the town needs improved infrastructure, like better signage and more parking for recreational vehicles. Also, more recreational activities and events will increase the length of stay of tourists.

Bodnarchuk says the town is in a perfect location to develop a tourism industry that can create some new economic development and employment in the area.

The committee is looking for ideas for branding the city.

"We felt if we can come up with a theme for the town, and give it a brand, so that we...