The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Culture, Heritage and Tourism Minister Eric Robinson has introduced the Travel Manitoba Act, proposed new legislation that would create a Crown agency with the flexibility to seize new tourism opportunities through a public and private partnership. "By working with the tourism industry and examining the experiences of other provinces, we have developed a Manitoba approach to ensure this growing area of our economy continues to expand and prosper," said Robinson. "As well as being able to respond quickly to rapidly changing tourism market conditions, this agency would also facilitate private sector input and engagement." The new agency, Travel Manitoba, would oversee marketing, visitor information services, product development, research and public awareness. A small secretariat within the Department of Culture, Heritage and Tourism would oversee policy and planning functions, as well as liaise with other levels of government. Tourism contributes approximately $1.4 billion to Manitoba's economy and employs directly or indirectly 60,000 Manitobans. "Every day we find new opportunities to market what Manitoba has to offer visitors," said Max Johnson, co-chair of the Ministerial Advisory Council on Tourism. "The ability to work with a partner who has more flexibility to respond to these opportunities is something we welcome throughout the tourism industry." The legislation proposes that a board of nine to 15 members be appointed to oversee the operations of the new agency, which would be funded annually based on activities outlined in a detailed three-year business plan to be submitted each year by the board. The new agency would be phased in and is expected to be in place by the spring of 2005. Consultations with the tourism industry would begin later this year to gather input to assist in developing the first business plan for the new corporation.
