Despite tensions over crowds and politics, tourism remains vital to Manitoulin’s economy. Residents should welcome visitors, as these long-standing, personal, and economic ties benefit everyone.
The Island has had a bit of a love-hate relationship with tourism and tourists over the years, which is pretty much normal for rural areas that enjoy the near-pristine natural beauty so sought-after by urban dwellers—but chaff in the adjustments that have to be made in our rural peace and quiet (traffic anyone?).
Farmers have spent generations chasing wandering kibitzers out of their fields, often because of the damage inflicted on their crops but also for the safety of those errant wanderers. A bull might be hilarious in cartoon form but can be deadly when faced out in the open for real—somewhat more docile cattle can also be dangerous, even for those trained to handle large animals.
But many Island businesses, and by extension their employees, depend on the summer bump to make it through the leaner winter months. Thanks to that tourism pump, more stores and services can exist in an area that is thinly populated year-round.
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