Press Release · August 3, 2021
Formed in 2020, a working group of provincial tourism industry colleagues is exploring the feasibility of forming a tourism industry association in Manitoba. The working group is now commencing industry engagement to determine the viability, interest and appetite for a new industry organization for tourism in the province, the Tourism Industry Association of Manitoba (TIA Manitoba).
“The Government of Canada recognizes that tourism businesses are key economic drivers in Canada, often outpacing more traditional industries,” says the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages, and Minister responsible for Western Economic Diversification Canada. “As we navigate this road to economic recovery, we will continue to engage with tourism businesses so they have the appropriate supports needed to welcome visitors back once it is safe to do so.”
“Tourism is amongst the hardest hit industries by the pandemic,” says John Gunter, spokesperson of the working group and President & CEO for Frontiers North Adventures. “We are grateful to Travel Manitoba and the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce who in recent years have graciously in-part represented our interests. Now more than ever, all stakeholders in Manitoba’s tourism industry need to come together to identify priorities and develop policy to hasten our recovery.”
“Travel Manitoba welcomes the efforts of the TIA Manitoba Working Group as another ally on the road to full recovery for the tourism industry”, said Colin Ferguson, President and CEO of Travel Manitoba. “The successful implementation of the new Manitoba Tourism Strategy will depend on the alignment of efforts toward common goals, and working together to build back better than before.”
The next step for the TIA Manitoba working group is to connect, engage and learn from as many tourism industry operators as possible. Feasibility and development opportunities will be determined from this first phase, with a completion date by the end of August 2021.
To kick-off engagement and next-steps for this proposed association and its feasibility, a survey has been created for the tourism industry in Manitoba to contribute to. To connect with the working group, link to the survey and stay tuned to project updates, a TIA Manitoba website and Facebook page have also been established.
The TIA MB Feasibility Working Group is grateful for project support from The Government of Canada through the Regional Relief and Recovery Fund (RRRF) and together with support provided from the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce.
TIA Manitoba working group members include:
- Ben Gillies – Winnipeg Trolley Company
- Caleigh Christie – Falcon Trails Resort
- John and Merv Gunter – Frontiers North Adventures
- Karly McRae – Lakehouse Boutique Hotel
- Pit Turenne – Aikens Lake Lodge
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For more information on the Working Group, contact:
John Gunter, Chair, TIAMB Working Group
john.gunter@frontiersnorth.com
(250) 510-4793
For more information about the Project and how to engage, contact:
Patti Balsillie, Project Lead
pattib@northwestel.net
(867) 334-2522
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