Ottawa’s ‘Savings Passport’ Has Discounts & Deals To Encourage Local Tourism
Staycation, anyone? To encourage locals to start exploring their own city, Ottawa Tourism has launched a brand new “savings passport.” The purpose of the digital passport is to encourage Ottawans to drop some cash in their own city, by offering discounts on hotels, restaurants, attractions and more.
This week, Ottawa Tourism revealed the “#MyOttawa Pass," a digital book of savings and discounts that is available to residents of the city.
The “digital passport” offers free gifts and deals at a variety of local businesses, including theatres, museums, escape rooms, art galleries, hotels, retail stores and restaurants.
There's even helicopter tours, white water rafting experiences, haunted walks, cooking classes and vintage biplane trips.
The full list of participating businesses can be found here.
The digital deals and discounts book is totally free, and is available to anybody who lives locally.
To get the passport, you need sign up online via the Ottawa Tourism website, and then present the special offer or deal at the participating local business.
"Let’s help kickstart our local economy by getting out in support of our local businesses as they reopen, all while finding deals and exploring the city," wrote the tourism agency.
While Ottawa is usually one of Canada’s tourism hubs, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the industry.
Ottawa Tourism estimates the local economy has lost $1.4 billion since the beginning of the pandemic, per CTV News.
However, the agency hopes that the new savings passport will go some way towards encouraging locals to engage in a staycation, and explore all that Ottawa has to offer this summer.
The deals and offers will run through July 31, 2020.
Ottawa Tourism notes that some of the participating businesses have not yet fully reopened, so staycationers should contact the location ahead of time to confirm specific opening hours.
#MyOttawa Pass
Price: Free
When: June 25 - July 31, 2020
Details: Be a tourist in your own home by utilizing tons of deals and discounts at local attractions, restaurants and retail stores.