Backgrounder: Funding for Prairie destination marketing organizations and tourism business support services

May 27, 2021 – Edmonton, Alberta – Western Economic Diversification Canada

Today, the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages and Minister responsible for Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD), announced more than $8.4 million through the Regional Relief and Recovery Fund (RRRF), for 20 tourism business support organizations across the Prairies.

Project funding enabled the following tourism industry associations and destination marketing organizations in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba to provide important services to local tourism companies such as mentoring, networking, skills training, market intelligence, as well as support to transition to a digital marketplace.

Alberta

• Banff & Lake Louise Hospitality Association - $124,450
• Banff & Lake Louise Tourism - $500,000
• Explore Edmonton - $300,000
• Indigenous Tourism Alberta - $50,000
• Tourism Calgary - $300,000
• Tourism Canmore Kananaskis - $100,000
• Tourism Industry Association of Alberta (TIAA) - $100,000
• Tourism Jasper - $250,000
• Travel Alberta - $2,500,000

Saskatchewan

• City of Regina - $45,000
• Economic Development Regina Inc. (Tourism Regina) - $625,000
• Saskatchewan Commission of Professional Outfitters Incorporated - $100,000
• Saskatoon Downtown Business Improvement District - $65,000
• Saskatoon Prairieland Park Corporation - $175,000
• Regina Exhibition Association Limited - $140,000
• The Saskatoon Visitor & Convention Bureau Inc. (Tourism Saskatoon) - $675,000
• Tourism Saskatchewan - $750,000

Manitoba

• Economic Development Winnipeg - $812,450
• Entreprises Riel - $71,700
• Travel Manitoba - $800,000

Related products

• Government of Canada Regional Relief and Recovery Fund Saving Tourism Jobs in the Prairies
• More support for tourism and other small businesses experiencing COVID-19-related losses across Western Canada
• Western Economic Diversification Canada working with tourism businesses to bolster the industry’s recovery efforts in western Canada