Tourism Week A Time to Highlight Offerings
Saskatchewan Tourism Week 2024 will coincide with Tourism Week in Canada and will be celebrated the week of April 15th – 19th. The goal of Tourism Week is to bring attention to the importance of tourism which employs almost 71,000 Saskatchewan residents in full and part-time positions. That represents twelve percent of total employment in the province which accounts for over $2 billion in revenue. Tourism Week highlights the many businesses and operators who create jobs and visitor opportunities to display the diversity in Saskatchewan. From historical destinations to adventure and recreational opportunities to cultural experiences, Saskatchewan has it all but many in the province are still unaware of the many opportunities that exist right down the road.
Tourism Saskatchewan’s goal during Tourism Week, is to encourage residents and potential visitors to spend their hard-earned vacation dollars here in Saskatchewan through in- and out-of-province marketing of the province as a tourism destination. It is also responsible for programs and services that promote growth and advancement of the tourism sector. With the increased cost-of-living weighing on people’s minds, it might be just the time to explore the many different experiences Saskatchewan businesses work hard to provide.
A strong, healthy tourism sector benefits Saskatchewan’s citizens on many levels. It contributes to the quality of life through public investments in infrastructure, transportation, provincial and regional parks, cultural activities and attractions, events, recreational facilities, and other areas. Virtually every area of business or commerce is influenced by tourism activities from hotels to campgrounds, restaurants to gas stations, and Farmers Markets to micro-breweries and distilleries.
According to the World Travel & Tourism Council, small and medium-sized businesses account for 85 percent of the global industry. In Saskatchewan, the tourism sector is driven by locally owned and operated businesses in both rural and urban areas. Tourism provides seasonal and part-time employment to many youths, giving them valuable work experience to add to their resumes. Regional parks like Wakaw Lake offer golfing and water sport activities as well as camping, which can be combined with one of the Wheatland Express Excursions and a trip to the Batoche National Historic site, with a stop at Bellevue’s Le Capitaine Restaurant located in the Rendez-vous Community Centre where just down the hall, le centre francophone bds which represents the Fransaskois communities of St. Isidore-de-Bellevue, Domremy, and St. Louis, houses archival information regarding these French settlements.
The Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) is the national advocate for tourism in Canada. Acting on behalf of thousands of businesses across the country, the organization promotes policies and programs that foster tourism’s growth. TIAC continues to promote travel to and within Canada, including the enhancement of the travel experience, a dedicated tourism labour strategy, and supports for the sector’s needs to build forward, as we continue to work with the Government of Canada to help achieve the goals of the new Federal Tourism Growth Strategy.
While some of the goals of TIAC focus on growing tourism spending in Canada to an annual $134 billion, and welcome 30 million international overnight visitors, Tourism Saskatchewan’s focus naturally is about attracting more tourism here to Saskatchewan, and reminding people of the places, events, and communities right here, including Wakaw and the neighbouring communities in all four directions. The Batoche National Historic Site, Station Arts Centre, One Arrow First Nation’s powwow, Seager Wheeler Farm, Bruno’s Cherry Festival, Back to Batoche, and the Rosthern Ag Society’s annual KCRA rodeo are all attractions worthy of the time to take them in. Minister Responsible for Tourism Saskatchewan Jeremy Harrison said, “Tourism is present in communities throughout Saskatchewan, from small towns to cities to remote villages. Activity in any of these five industries - accommodations, food and beverage services, recreation and entertainment, transportation, and travel services - represents tourism. It influences all other areas of business and commerce, and certainly deserves this week of recognition.”
During the pandemic, the tourism industry experienced a huge downturn and while it has shown recovery, the expectation was that it would take until this year for it to get back to where it was previously. The industry engages people in every community, large and small, throughout the province. It encourages community pride and development and highlights Saskatchewan’s remarkable assets to the rest of Canada and to the world.
Tourism Week acts as a showcase for Saskatchewan tourism products, attractions and resources, raises awareness about the importance of tourism, and encourages appreciation of the people and communities that drive the industry. It highlights why tourism matters and the contributions it makes to the economy and quality of life. Tourism contributes to the provincial economy through the taxes collected, but it is also felt all the way down to the local level through purchases made at local businesses, services used, wages earned, and investments in infrastructure and community revitalization. Tourism combines Saskatchewan hospitality, its diverse culture and rich history, and the province’s unique natural assets to create something with enormous economic and social impact, enjoyed by millions of people each year.
Carol Baldwin, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Wakaw Recorder
