August 12, 1999

BRANDON--Manitoba’s regional tourism organizations will be able to market themselves and their unique attractions more extensively with funding support from the Manitoba government, Industry, Trade and Tourism Minister Mervin C. Tweed announced today.

Tweed said the province will provide a total of up to $280,000 in matching funds for the seven regions to support them in their marketing efforts. The regions will be required to submit marketing plans to the government for approval and to ensure the plans are consistent with provincial marketing strategies.

"This allows each of our tourism regions to promote themselves and what they have to offer

independently of the other regions and even of the province," Tweed said. "We feel regional promotion will more closely reflect the unique features of each region’s tourism industry and attractions. This program will allow the regional people working in the industry to develop and implement a marketing plan for their area."

Tweed said in this first phase of putting more autonomy in the hands of regional tourism organizations, Travel Manitoba personnel will be available to assist, if needed, inn the development of regional marketing strategies.

"Tourism is an important part of our economy, employing 57,000 people on a full and part-time basis and bringing over one billion dollars into our province. We want to encourage and stimulate private and public investment in the tourism industry through effective application of our resources. Providing our tourism regions with independent marketing support will more effectively support the industry and help it grow," said Tweed.

Tweed said Travel Manitoba is just putting the finishing touches to its new Marketing Opportunities Guide, the department’s plan for the year which will soon be available for tourism operators and regions. The guide is used to determine their opportunities for partnerships with the province in advertising, trade shows and marketing.

The president of the southwest regional association START, Dean Dietrich, said this will be a boost to the tourism industry throughout the province. "Providing the additional support and giving the regions more flexibility will allow us to define the target markets of our marketing efforts and make those efforts more effective. We hope this gives us more impact and even greater success in bringing tourists and business to our regions."

"We want to continue working in partnership and co- operation with the tourism industry because that is the only way to maximize our efforts and the benefits the industry brings to the province," said the minister.

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Parkland Tourism Association

P.O. Box 515

Rossburn MB R0J 1V0

Ph: 859-3064 Fax: 859-3064

Pembina Valley Development Corp.

P.O. Box 1180

Altona MB R0G 0B0

Ph: 324-8641 Fax: 324-1230

Central Plains Tourism Network

302 Saskatchewan Ave. E.

Portage la Prairie MB R1N 0K8

Ph: 857-8736 Fax: 239-6519

S.T.A.R.T.

Box 915

Souris MB R0K 2C0

Ph: 483-2173 Fax: 483-3826

Interlake Tourism Association

Box 689

Arborg MB R0C 0A0

Ph: 376-5033 Fax: 376-2618

Norman Regional Development

100-23 Station Road

Thompson MB R8N 0N6

Ph: 778-8155 Fax: 778-4192

Eastman Regional Development

P.O.Box 429

Beausejour MB R0E 0C0

Ph: 268-2884 Fax: 268-4826