Saskatchewan Tourism Week 2022
The Government of Saskatchewan has proclaimed May 29-June 4 as Saskatchewan Tourism Week.
The week, which coincides with the national celebration of Tourism Week in Canada, will be a time to champion Saskatchewan’s tourism industry – to cheer for chefs who bring the flavour, for guides who know the water, and for volunteers who make it happen.
Saskatchewan Tourism Week presents an opportunity to rally around one of the hardest-hit sectors and celebrate its resiliency. There is great anticipation this year as enthusiasm for travel resumes and operators prepare for a busy summer season.
Throughout the week, Tourism Saskatchewan will release a series of videos on its Facebook and Instagram channels. Themed Cheer for Saskatchewan, these stories showcase the province’s abundant tourism resources and bring attention to the people, businesses and experiences that make Saskatchewan an inviting destination.
Tourism industry operators and stakeholders are invited to share this content on their social media channels and websites. They can also post videos and images of their own operations/customers, using the hashtags #SKTourismWeek and #ExploreSask. Sharing content assists in amplifying the Saskatchewan tourism message to a wider audience.
Tourism Saskatchewan will also launch the #ExploreSask Challenge to encourage residents to support local, plan road trips and staycations in the province, and make travel memories right here at home. With the grand prize of a Grey Cup Festival Prize Package and monthly vacation prize draws (valued at approximately $2,000), the challenge will run throughout the Saskatchewan Roughriders' football season until October 15. Earn draw ballots by checking in at 40 locations across the province this summer. Participating tourism businesses will also be offering deals and discounts. Sign up today for the #ExploreSask Challenge mobile passport at tourismsaskatchewan.com.
Cheer for Saskatchewan’s Tourism Industry Recovery
The COVID-19 pandemic has posed unprecedented challenges to the tourism industry. Since the initial fallout in 2020, Saskatchewan has experienced a modest recovery.
There is optimism as total visitor expenditures and tourism-related employment numbers have seen increases. In 2020, Saskatchewan had $1.50 billion in visitor spending. There were 50,000 people employed in tourism-related jobs that year. Tourism expenditures grew to $1.74 billion in 2021, with 57,200 people employed in the tourism industry. Another encouraging statistic included hotel occupancy rates that rose from 32 per cent in 2020 to 41 per cent in 2021.
Estimates for 2022 are not available; however, further growth is anticipated over the next two years, with full recovery to pre-pandemic levels* expected in 2024.
*Pre-pandemic, tourism spending in Saskatchewan reached $2.7 billion in 2019. Tourism-related employment hit 71,100, and hotel occupancy rates were 56 per cent.