Ministry of Tourism statistics show Museum Economic Impact on City of Kitchener and Waterloo Region

Kitchener, ON – The Children’s Museum of Waterloo Region has had much recent success with a blockbuster exhibition strategy and as it turns out, this success translates into much needed funds for the Region.

According to statistics provided by an Ontario’s Ministry of Tourism report, Tourism Regional Economic Impact Model (TREIM), activities of The Children’s Museum in the 2008 calendar year generated $6,894,205.00 that went directly into the local economy through hotels, restaurants, retailers and other cultural attractions.

This statistic is based on comparing provincial averages with actual Museum activities and would include funds generated during 2008 by programs and exhibits such as Discovering Chimpanzees: The Remarkable World of Jane Goodall, Max Dean’s The Robotic Chair and Dinosaurs Alive!.

Museum attendance and Membership doubled in 2008 helping to generate this positive impact. Considering the recent success of the highly popular, Andy Warhol’s Factory 2009, which has been extended through May 10th, it is believed that both economic and cultural benefits will be positively impacted for 2009.

“On a regular basis we hear local success stories from our neighbours in the Downtown core,” says David Marskell, The Museum’s Chief Executive Officer. “What seems to have had the most impact on tourists is that this is all happening at the corner of King and Queen Streets in Downtown Kitchener - the Heart of Waterloo Region. The Museum is experiencing a full 23% of visitors from Toronto and the GTA, including Hamilton, London,Guelph and Brantford.”

Marskell’s words are echoed by Downtown business and retail owners including Civilian Printing, The Walper Terrace Hotel, Classico’s, Inception Clothing and Rare Funk, which all claim to be benefiting from the Warhol show being steps away.

Schools groups are traveling from as far away as Toronto, Hamilton and London to see the Warhol show and the exhibit has garnered national attention on CBC Radio One, Canadian Art Magazine, Canadian National Geographic, CTV’s Good Morning Canada and even a Buffalo based newspaper praised their efforts.