Manitoba election: PCs promise to spend more on tourism marketing

Manitoba's Progressive Conservatives are pledging a big spending boost to promote tourism in the province if they are elected on April 19.

Leader Brian Pallister made the announcement Wednesday in the Journey to Churchill exhibit at Assiniboine Park Zoo, as polar bears swam in the glass tunnel overhead.

If elected, the PCs would increase spending on tourism marketing by $28.2 million over five years, Pallister said.

The increased spending could generate upwards of $288 million in tourism-related economic benefits and $46 million in new tax revenue, the party said.

Pallister criticized the NDP government for not spending enough to promote Manitoba. The province currently spends $7.5 million on tourism annually, while Saskatchewan spends $15 million, he said.

"The current government spends more on promoting itself than any other provincial government and spends less on promoting the province, which I think is a clear example of having things backwards," Pallister said.

He couldn't say exactly what the money would be spent on or who a campaign would target. Pallister said he would consult with the industry to come up with a strategy.

The New Democrats have already promised to invest in the tourism industry if they're re-elected.

• Manitoba NDP pledge to boost tourism industry, upgrade parks

In a statement, the NDP accused the PCs of saying no in the past to investments in facilities that have hosted tourists, including the MTS Centre and Investors Group Field.