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Homecoming campaign deemed a success in increasing visitors

By: Staff Writer

Posted: 02/13/2012 12:35 PM | Comments: 0 (including replies) | Last Modified: 02/13/2012 1:30 PM | Updates

TIM SMITH / BRANDON SUN ARCHIVES Enlarge Image

The Snowbirds performed as part of Manitoba Homecoming 2010 festivities in Neepawa.

The provincial campaign to mark Manitoba’s 140th anniversary has been ruled a success.

The Manitoba Homecoming campaign is credited with attracting more visitors to the province in 2010 than normally visit and who spent a record amount.

Data provided by Travel Manitoba show that visitors to the province in 2010 increased 5.7 per cent and spending by visitors was up 5.6; visitors to Winnipeg for the same period was up 7 per cent, and visitor spending in the city increased 5 per cent – typical year-to-year visitor spending increases are in the range of 1.7 to 2 per cent.

"One of Homecoming’s goals was to capitalize on the positive feeling in Manitoba and take advantage of that increased community confidence," Doug Harvey, co-chair, along with Mariette Mulaire, of Manitoba Homecoming, said in a prepared statement. "These numbers confirm the success we had with those original goals of promoting our changing and vibrant province."

Using data from Statistics Canada, Travel Manitoba said that visitors to the province in 2010 spent $1.258 billion, exceeding the record of $1.236 billion set in 2007.

Of the $67-million increase in visitor spending in the province between 2009 and 2010, about $30 million can be attributed to Homecoming.

For Winnipeg, visitors spent $506 million in 2010.

"Of the $25 million increase in expenditures (in Winnipeg) in 2010, we believe we can attribute approximately $14.7 million to the success of Homecoming," Marina James, president and CEO of Economic Development Winnipeg Inc., said. "Total attendance at some 400 Homecoming-affiliated events was over 200,000, and those additional visitors contributed to Homecoming’s economic impact."

Homecoming 2010 was an initiative created jointly by Travel Manitoba and Tourism Winnipeg. The campaign had a budget of $3.5 million from public investment and leveraged private sector funds, most of which was spent on marketing.

The Homecoming website tracked 200,000 visits from 10 provinces, 2 territories, 50 states and 137 countries.

Some of the major events included Neepawa’s Manitoba Day weekend, Bargefest, Clear Lake Homecoming Weekend, Lights on Broadway, and Centralia, a global business-to-business forum.

"Homecoming highlighted the strengths of Manitoba’s communities and showcased the strong spirit of Manitobans," Colin Ferguson, president and CEO of Travel Manitoba, said. "It was an extended showcase for everything that’s great about our province, from our major festivals and cultural events to smaller community gatherings of all sorts."

History

Updated on Monday, February 13, 2012 at 1:30 PM CST: Typo in headline fixed

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