TOURISM IN MANITOBA CONT.
“Whether it be our world-class festivals, cultural events, the great food and culinary scene here that may be seen as experiences for tourists, we all benefit from having these things in our community, and it contributes to our sense of pride of place.” — Angela Cassie, chief operating officer for Travel Manitoba
TD Winnipeg International Jazz Festival (TOP) Buffalo Point Resort PHOTOS COURTESY OF TRAVEL MANITOBA
and hospitality. Investing in tourism also means increasing employment. Driving traffic and awareness to businesses in the tourism space amplifies their own marketing efforts and expands their reach. This exposure and growth can stimulate investment and job creation — generating revenues that can be reinvested in infrastructure such as roads, trails and facilities — to the advantage of visitors and year-round residents. “A majority of the tourism experiences here are led by small and medium businesses, and they operate across the province. They're creating jobs. They're investing in their local economies, and it really contributes to the fabric of our communities,” Cassie says. “Whether it be our world-class festivals, cultural events, the great food and culinary scene here that may be seen as experiences for tourists, we all benefit from having these things in our community, and it contributes to our sense of pride of place. It helps tell our story. It shares this history and this beauty with the world. Tourism is such a powerful vehicle, both from an economic side but also from developing that sense of pride in where you live.”
Indigenous tourism is another big growth area in Manitoba, Cassie adds. “Right now, there are about 170 Indigenous-owned tourism businesses, and that's been an increase of about 110 per cent since 2019,” she says. “We know that there is a lot of interest by Manitobans and Canadians, but there's also a lot of global interest in Indigenous tourism and the authentic experiences it provides. Those businesses generate about $90 million in provincial GDP, creating 1,600 jobs, and organizations like Indigenous Tourism Manitoba are working to grow this part of the industry.” Tourism spending is responsible for about 25,000 direct and indirect jobs in Manitoba, in a wide range of sectors reaching beyond transportation
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SUMMER 2025
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