Alberta’s tourism sector was buoyed by a host of good news this month.
The province announced it is directing an additional $5 million per year for three years toward tourism marketing and development in Alberta.
Added to the current base funding of $19.1 million, this brings total annual provincial investment in tourism to more than $24 million.
Economic Development Minister Mark Norris noted competing jurisdictions are marketing more aggressively than ever to attract visitors after feeling the impact of SARS, adverse weather patterns, mad- cow disease and downturns in global economies.
In the coming weeks, the industry-led Strategic Tourism Marketing Council will integrate these new government dollars into its marketing plan and channel them to where they can attract the greatest number of visitors to Alberta, said Mac Makenny, industry co-chair of the council.
It was also announced that:
* The number of charter flights from Japan to Calgary will double this summer to six, in response to the growing demand by Japanese travellers to Alberta. Last summer marked the first charter flights from Japan to Calgary. All three inaugural charters sold out.
* Government has begun working with community destinations and tourism industry in the Drumheller region to develop a new tourism destination icon, The Canadian Badlands.
* Alberta will stage the Canada-Japan Tourism Conference in Banff in May.
* A new U.S. travel media relations representative based in Texas has been appointed.
* A new California-based general sales agent dedicated to western U.S. meetings, conventions and incentive travel market has also been appointed.
Tourism is one of Alberta’s largest industries, generating more than $5 billion annually and employing more than 120,000 people.
Web watch:
www.travelalberta.com
