Saskatchewan Tourism Week kicks off in Prince Albert

This week’s events include daily barbecues from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. and appearances from the Raiders and the SPCA’s furry friends. The week will wrap up with a Save Our Slides rally at Kinsmen Park.

According to Pratt, tourism is incredibly beneficial.

“Tourism is huge. Around the world it’s an important economic driver,” she said. “If you don’t have tourism, you don’t have people coming to your city. You potentially don’t have people relocating.”

One of the obstacles to tourism in the city is large number of people who leave for the lake lands during the warmer months.

“The lakes are a huge draw in the summer, so we have to find ways to bring people back,” said Pratt. “That’s one of the huge goals that we have with the Borealis Music Festival.”

According to the music festival website (http://www.borealismusicfestival.com/), they aim to attract visitors and performers from everywhere possible. It will be held July 31 to August 2.

“Visitors can expect a quality experience and the event will generate increased destination awareness, community collaboration and socio-cultural benefits,” the website states.

The main festival site will be Kinsmen Park situated in the heart of Prince Albert.

“On August long [weekend] we’re trying to bring people back from the lakes to enjoy what Prince Albert has to offer and Kinsmen Park and a great music festival,” said Pratt.

“We have beautiful parks. We’re so close to the lakes that it’s easy to be in P.A. and then be able to go for a day trip. And we’re close to Saskatoon,” she said.

“We’re a really great centralized place where people have lots of options. There’s always tons to do.”

There are so many things that Prince Albert has to offer that I don’t think people realize, she said.

Mayor Greg Dionne couldn’t agree more. He said the city just needs more exposure.

“I believe it’s just telling the public what we have to offer,” he said.

Dionne also stressed the positive impacts tourism can have.

“Tourism is a big economic drive,” he said. “I don’t think we’ve tapped it enough.”

“We’re going to do some changes in the next year to put us even more in the forefront. The city needs representation at different tradeshows in Saskatoon and Regina to promote various aspects of the city, according to Dionne.

“We have lots to offer tourists and I believe we should be attracting more,” he said.

If you enter your name at Tourism Visitor Centre you have a chance to win prizes including a golf package, a gym membership, movie passes, a Raider jersey and concert tickets.

Schedule of events

(All activities will take place outside the Tourism Visitor Centre unless otherwise stated).

Tuesday June 2:

11:00am-1:00pm – Police car and ambulance display tours

11:00am-1:00pm – Prince Albert Tourism barbeque

11:00am-1:00pm – P.A.M.C. information session

11:00am-1:00pm – WHL’s P.A. Raiders on site

11:00am-2:00pm – Life sized kid’s games and mini golf

Wednesday June 3rd:

11:00am-1:00pm – Police car and ambulance display tours

11:00am-1:00pm – Prince Albert Tourism barbeque

11:00am-2:00pm – Life sized kids games, mini golf

11:00am-1:00pm – SPCA on site

Thursday June 4:

11:00am-1:00pm – Fire truck display tours

11:00am-1:00pm – Prince Albert Tourism barbeque

11:00am – 2:00pm – Outdoor laser tag from paintball paradise

11:00am-2:00pm – Life sized kids games, mini golf

Friday June 5:

12:00pm – 4:00pm – Save our Slides event in Kinsmen Park

asoloducha@panow.com

On Twitter: @alex_soloducha

by Alex Soloducha

Saskatchewan Tourism Week kicks off in Prince Albert

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