Northern Ontario is big—REALLY big—which can be a challenge for anyone trying to get from one city to another or to escape into our great wilderness. Roads, air, and rail networks are critical to the success of our tourism industry (and economy at large) and that’s why Destination Northern Ontario is making it a priority.

Ian Wood is a director on Destination Northern Ontario's board of directors and the chair of its ad hoc committee on transportation issues. In this episode, he lays out the current state of our transportation network, what should be done to improve them for visitors, and what YOU can do to help.

00:00 Introduction

01:18 Why Transportation is Key For Northern Ontario Tourism

03:19 Formation and Goal of the Transportation Issues Committee

05:32 Road Transportation in Northern Ontario

10:38 Air Transportation Post-COVID

14:40 Rail Transportation in Northern Ontario

17:36 Opportunities for Air Transportation

21:49 Opportunities for Rail Transportation

26:42 Opportunities for Road Transportation

30:10 How DNO is Advancing Improvements

31:36 Call to Action for Tourism Operators

32:35 The Top Priority

34:16 Postscript: New Air Routes!

Mentioned resources

1. Northern Ontario Transportation Challenges & Solutions destinationnorthernontario.ca/sites/default/files/2025-10/MC_Transportation%20Challenges%20and%20Solutions_04-14-25_LowRes.pdf

About the Destination: Northern Ontario podcast

This is a series for tourism business operators in rugged and beautiful Northern Ontario. Whether you're just starting out, or you've got years under your belt, this podcast will make sure you're well equipped for the journey. If you’re not an operator yet, but plan to buy a tourism business in the north, then check out Season 1 for case studies and expert guidance.

Learn more about tourism investment opportunities in Northern Ontario at invest.destination northernontario.ca. Follow DNO on Twitter/X, Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn.

The podcast is hosted by Michelle Samson and produced by Storied Places Media.

Are you resisting digital marketing for your tourism business? Maybe you think your business is doing just fine without it, or that new technology feels a little overwhelming, or that you've got a Facebook page and isn't that enough? Whatever the reason, this episode’s guest—Mike Jacobs of The New Business—might just convince you to spend more time and money promoting yourself on the worldwide web. If you’re brand new to digital marketing, we’ve got actionable strategies for where to start. If you’re a veteran, you still want to tune in for Mike’s fascinating crystal ball insights on AI and the future of marketing.

• 02:59 Mike’s Case for Investing in Digital Marketing
• 08:51 The First Things You Should Invest In: Branding and a Website
• 16:35 The Next Step: Social Media
• 18:56 How Much Money to Spend and Where to Spend It
• 23:31 How AI is Changing Marketing
• 28:03 A Digital Marketing Success Story
• 31:12 Future Trends in Digital Marketing

Mentioned resources

• Emily Baillie’s episode of Let’s Talk Northern Ontario Tourism: https://player.captivate.fm/episode/6bb28c5d-3291-48fb-836c-d6e1fbca0e4b/

Find out more about The New Business and the Tourism Technology Company

• The New Business website: thenew.business
• Tourism Technology Company/Whereabouts website: tourism.tech

About the Destination: Northern Ontario podcast

This is a series for tourism business operators in rugged and beautiful Northern Ontario. Whether you're just starting out, or you've got years under your belt, this podcast will make sure you're well equipped for the journey. If you’re not an operator yet, but plan to buy a tourism business in the north, then check out Season 1 for case studies and expert guidance.

Learn more about tourism investment opportunities in Northern Ontario at invest.destination northernontario.ca. Follow DNO on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn.

The podcast is hosted by Michelle Samson and produced by Storied Places Media.

Introducing a whole new podcast from Destination Northern Ontario. Let's Talk Northern Ontario Tourism is for tourism operators and industry stakeholders featuring experts who understand what it means to run a tourism business or organization here in Northern Ontario. Through casual conversations, you’ll learn about cutting edge topics like AI marketing, Cruise Ship Tourism, and trends that are shaking up the industry. Plus, you can tune in  while driving or doing chores.

Find Let's Talk Northern Ontario Tourism at tourismexcellencenorth.ca/podcast or wherever you listen to podcasts.

For even more  insights that’ll help you grow your business, organization, or community, connect with Tourism Excellence North, which is part of Destination Northern Ontario:

• Website - tourismexcellencenorth.ca
• Facebook - facebook.com/DestinationNorthernOntario
• Instagram - instagram.com/destinationnorthernontario
• LinkedIn - linkedin.com/company/destinationnorthernontario

 Let's Talk Northern Ontario Tourism is an initiative of Tourism Excellence North and is recorded on the traditional territories of the Anishinaabek and the Mushkegowuk. It is hosted by Karen Peacock and produced by Storied Places Media with support from Erica Richard, Naza Obasi, and Gillian McCullough.