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T hanks to our province's incredible wildlife, vibrant skies and incredible landscapes – and the tourism experiences that come with those amazing features – Manitoba was named by Lonely Planet as one of the Top 10 Regions to visit in 2019. This designation by one of the world's leading travel companies shows that there is worldwide interest in Manitoba's tourism experiences. This win for our province's tourism industry comes as tourism stakeholders in Manitoba's North aim to grow the importance of that sector to the region's economy through the Northern Manitoba Tourism Strategy, a Travel Manitoba initiative supported by the Province of Manitoba. "North of the 53rd parallel, Manitoba has incredible natural assets and is rich in Indigenous culture and history," said Growth, Enterprise and Trade Minister Blaine Pedersen. "Sharing these experiences with travellers from across the province, Canada and the world is an opportunity to enrich the lives of many and contribute to the economic future of the region." The Northern Manitoba Tourism Strategy was launched a year ago, with the aim to increase tourism expenditures in Manitoba's North from the current $116 million annually to $151 million by 2022. While hunting and fishing tourism has prospered in Manitoba's North for many decades, the growth of Churchill as an international destination for polar bear and beluga whale viewing has created global brand recognition for the North. There remains significant potential for other adventure tourism opportunities in Manitoba's North, such as outdoor experiences on the abundance of lakes, waterways and parks, as well as further careful development and presentation of Indigenous culture to visitors to the region. "The first year of the Northern Manitoba Tourism Strategy has been filled with successes and interesting learning experiences," said the Chair of the Northern Manitoba Tourism Advisory Committee, Gary Bell. "Connecting stakeholders across the region has provided important insight into the opportunities and challenges that exist in the North in terms of tourism development." Travel Manitoba's Northern Tourism Consultant has visited 11 communities across the region, identifying potential tourism products and experiences, such as the ongoing development of the Boreal Discovery Centre in Thompson and the completion of snowmobile trails between Snow Lake and Cranberry Portage. Growing Tourism in Northern Manitoba THE NORTH IS CALLING TRAVEL MANITOBA Thompson

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