At the Capturing Opportunities business forum, Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives Minister Rosann Wowchuk announced the next steps in the implementation of Manitoba’s Agri-tourism Development Framework and the formation of an Agri-tourism Advisory Committee to move the industry forward.
 
“This year’s Capturing Opportunities theme is Opportunities in the Green Economy and it’s a perfect opportunity to promote our plans for expanding agri-tourism in the healthy, green, rural Manitoba environment,” said Wowchuk. “Agri-tourism provides a variety of opportunities for personal experiences with rural cultures – everything from a dude ranch to a quaint, small-town bed and breakfast to farmers’ markets or U-pick farms.  This interest can create economic benefits for the agricultural sector, rural communities, provincial tourism and farm families.”
 
The plan includes consultation with Manitoba Culture, Heritage, Tourism and Sport, the Tourism Secretariat, Travel Manitoba, representatives of the tourism industry and a variety of rural organizations and individuals, some of whom are in the agri-tourism business and others interested in this business opportunity.
 
“Our focus will be to establish an Agri-tourism Advisory Committee with rural representatives and travel industry partners to pursue tourism business opportunities in rural communities,” said Culture, Heritage, Tourism and Sport Minister Eric Robinson. “There is growth potential for Manitoba’s tourism industry that will provide sustainable contributions to the economic well-being of Manitoba’s vibrant rural economies.”
 
Agri-tourists typically look for active outdoor activities where they can experience family-friendly activities in the countryside like rural community fairs, festivals like the Dauphin Ukrainian Festival and the Festival du Voyageur, natural wonders like the Carberry desert and historical sites like Lower Fort Garry.  Unique communities like the prairie seaport of Churchill with its world famous polar bears are a natural attraction.  Farmers’ markets throughout the province also provide the opportunity for Manitobans and tourists to buy fresh, local produce.  By encouraging personal experiences with these sites and activities, agri-tourism can create business opportunities, drawing more people to rural settings and communities and creating economic benefits in rural markets, said Wowchuk.
 
The ministers agreed enhancing Manitoba’s agri-tourism sector can help to diversify and strengthen farm incomes while responding to the demand for tourism experiences in healthy, natural rural settings.  By adding and developing new sustainable tourism products, the agri-tourism sector can enrich the Manitoba tourism product mix for domestic and international travellers, they concluded.