File photo / paNow Staff

By Joanie Olson

camping time

SaskParks announces enhanced reservation system for 2021

Feb 23, 2021 | 1:14 PM

When campers reserve their camping sites this year they will notice SaskParks have acquired a new vendor to provide an enhanced reservation system.

According to Minh Truong, the Director of Park Experience with the Ministry of Parks, Culture and Sport, the opportunity to look to new vendors became available early last year.

“Our contract with our former provider expired November last year and so we actually engaged in a competitive tender process at the start of 2020 in preparation of that,” she told paNOW.

Campground management and reservation software and the operator, Aspira, was deemed the most qualified and awarded the contract as a result of that competition.

“Aspira themselves have over 30 years of experience providing reservation platforms to government park agencies across North America…We as SaskParks will get to benefit from the 30 years of experience in the outdoor recreation industry,” said Truong.

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When using the Aspira software, campers reserving sites will see features such as notifications of campsites that become available. Also, the ability to get text reminders and email reminders will get to be realized over time.

Truong explained their focus right now is to make sure the system works for customers and parks are able to use the system and be sure people are able to book their campsites across all 24 provincial parks.

The province says Aspira’s vast years of experience will make the process of booking online simplified with a help of a call center every step of the way with enhanced capabilities. Prior to reservations opening, customers should plan to create a new account once the site is available in April. Online tutorials will be offered to help guide users through this process.

“The core functionality where people are able to get on the site or call through the call center to reserve a camping site within our provincial park will be available there but also get a bit better around notifying people of sites where they become available, making suggestion on other sites that they may not have particularly thought about or given thought to.” Truong said.

With all the supports in place, SaskParks are looking forward to the summer ahead following all provincial health guidelines.

“With the recent cold snap across the province, many folks are anticipating summer and this year’s camping season,” Parks, Culture and Sport Minister Laura Ross said in a media release. “Our provincial parks provide many options for safe and local summer vacations, with so much to see and do. Sask Parks staff are looking forward to welcoming visitors and their families back to the parks for another memorable year.”

Reservations for seasonal campsites will begin April 12 and April 23 for nightly and group camp sites.

For information related to this year’s campsite reservations, visit www.saskparks.com.

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joan.olson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @princealbertnow