Tourism plays a role in our communities — from supporting local businesses and jobs to shaping day-to-day quality of life. The Resident Sentiment Survey (RSS) is a region-wide initiative led by RTO3 to better understand how residents across Hamilton, Halton, and Brant experience tourism.

This survey gives residents a direct way to share their perspectives — whether positive, negative, or mixed — so future tourism decisions reflect community priorities.

Why this Survey Matters

Tourism is most successful when it has the support and trust of the people who live in a destination. Resident perspectives help decision-makers understand what’s working well, where concerns exist, and how tourism can better support local quality of life.

The results of this survey will be used to:

• Inform responsible tourism planning and management
• Identify community benefits and pressure points
• Support data-driven decisions at both regional and local levels
• Improve transparency and alignment between tourism and community needs

This is about listening first — and planning better as a result.

Who ParticipateD

• Adults (18+) who live year-round in Hamilton, Halton, or Brant
• Residents from all communities, neighbourhoods, and backgrounds
• You do not need to work in tourism to participate

All responses are confidential and reported only in aggregate.

REsults

Survey findings have been analyzed at both the regional and local levels (where sample size allowed) and shared with destination partners to support. The regional report includes a comprehensive understanding of how residents perceive tourism, its impacts, and its role in their communities. 

This survey establishes a baseline that can be repeated in future years to track change over time.