May 22, 2008 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
The Tourism Alliance for Western Canada will implement an international marketing campaign to stimulate tourism in Western Canada thanks to funding from Western Economic Diversification Canada.
The $5 million investment will promote Western Canada as a tourist destination in key target markets across the United States, Europe and Asia.
"In Saskatchewan, the tourism industry contributes more than $1.5 billion to the economy and employs 55,000 people," said the Honourable Gerry Ritz, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board on behalf of the Honourable Rona Ambrose, President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of Western Economic Diversification. "Our government is committed to strengthening Western Canada's tourism industry for long-term prosperity."
The Tourism Alliance of Western Canada is a joint marketing consortium in which the four western provinces and their respective Tourism Marketing Agencies work cooperatively to promote growth in tourism within the private sector. Under this project, each of the Alliance members - Tourism British Columbia, Travel Alberta, Tourism Saskatchewan and Travel Manitoba - will coordinate a series of activities tailored to the needs and priorities of each province.
"Among the values of Tourism Saskatchewan is the belief in teamwork," says Dr. Lynda Haverstock, President/CEO. "We recognize the power of collective strength and are proud to have contributed to the proposal put forward by the four western provinces, to which the federal government responded with funding through Western Economic Diversification Canada. This investment will assist Tourism Saskatchewan in its efforts to market our province's wealth of tourism resources to the rest of Canada and to the world. We commend the Government of Canada for recognizing the importance of our industry."
Tourism is one of Canada's top economic generators. In the West, tourism contributes about $18 billion to the economy each year and directly employs nearly 280,000 westerners in sectors that include accommodation, food and beverage services, recreation and entertainment, transportation, and travel services.
Western Economic Diversification Canada is a department of the Government of Canada that works in partnership with the western provinces, industry associations and communies to promote the development and diversification of the western economy as well as to represent the interests of the West in national decision-making.
For additional information, contact:
Joanne Mysak
Communications, Marketing & Consultations
Western Economic Diversification Canada
Saskatoon, SK
Tel: (306) 975-5942
Candace Phelps
Vice President/Director, Marketing
Tourism Saskatchewan
Regina, SK
Tel: (306) 787-9575
www.saskatourism.com
WD Toll-Free Number:1 888 338-WEST (9378)
Website: WD is online at www.wd-deo.gc.ca.
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