The province announced $1 million in funding Friday to help communities invest in event-bid preparation and sponsorships to attract large scale arts and sporting events and public conferences and exhibitions.
The funding is part of a three-year road map to rebuild a tourism sector battered by two years of pandemic restrictions and closures and position sa国际传媒 as a safe, world-class, event-hosting jurisdiction.
The $1 million is in addition to the $8 million the province recently announced for the Business Events and Conferences Restart Fund to help restart business travel by attracting events, conferences and exhibitions.
The funding is part of the province’s Strategic Framework for Tourism and responds to calls from the sector for a more resilient tourism sector by rebuilding to 2019 levels by 2024.
In total, last month’s provincial budget committed about $25 million to destination development, international marketing, business events and conferences recovery, marquee event bids, and tourism training.
“sa国际传媒 is a world-class destination, and we know the pandemic has hurt tourism,” Melanie Mark, minister of tourism, arts, culture and sport, said in a statement. “As the world opens up again, we’re working together to rebuild and revitalize this critical industry that adds so much to our planet, our people and our shared prosperity.”
The province is also investing $2 million for post-secondary education and training to support sa国际传媒 students who enrol in tourism and hospitality programs, tourism-related apprenticeships and trades training and development programs. The program, now in development, will give priority to students who are Indigenous, immigrant or refugee applicants, as well as those from rural or remote locations, and people with accessibility needs. More details will be provided soon.
The province has also committed $6 million this year through 2024 for Destination sa国际传媒 to market the province worldwide.
“We are very enthused about the province’s further investment in tourism recovery,” said Walt Judas, CEO of the Tourism Industry Association of sa国际传媒, said in a statement. “These funds come at an opportune time as our industry looks to rebuild our workforce, products and service levels to once again welcome guests from all over the world in the months and years ahead.”
