Travel Manitoba credits marketing for bump in U.S. visitors in July

Travel Manitoba is crediting a more aggressive marketing campaign in the United States for a boost in the number of American visitors to the province this past July.

The number of U.S. visitors to Manitoba went up by three per cent compared to July 2015, the Crown corporation announced Wednesday, citing data from the Canada Border Services Agency.

While the increase may appear small, it shows the number of U.S. visitors has not dipped at all compared to last summer, when scores of soccer fans came north for the FIFA Women's World Cup, says Travel Manitoba.

• Soccer fans from around the world arrive in Winnipeg to catch FIFA action
• FIFA Women's World Cup: Getting to Winnipeg games without a headache

The agency credits its marketing in the U.S. this summer, paired with greater public awareness of what Manitoba has to offer.

"We really ramped up our marketing efforts in the U.S. this summer, and it seems to be paying off," Travel Manitoba president and CEO Colin Ferguson said in a news release.

"Add to that the strength or our tourism attractions like Assiniboine Park Conservancy, the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, our world-class fishing, and a growing calendar of festivals, and it's a pretty powerful combination."

Travel Manitoba says its marketing campaign included videos shown on United and American Airlines flights, inserts distributed in national and local magazines and newspapers and an "extensive digital campaign" targeting specific groups of travellers.