Growth of sport tourism a top priority for local organizations

Tourism Lethbridge and the Lethbridge Sport Council are joining forces and have signed a Memorandum of Agreement to bring forth more resources to support Sport Tourism Development.

Last year the Tim Hortons Brier generated $16.8 million in economic activity to our region. The Brier supported 137 jobs totaling $6.2 million in wages and salaries. That included $5.4 million in wages and salaries for the local economy. Susan Eymann, the executive director of the Lethbridge Sport Council says this partnership will be mutually beneficial.

“One of the roles that Sport Council will have is to be that liaison between an event right holder, so a national sport organization. Talk to them, gather information, see if they’re interested in Lethbridge, and if it’s a fit with an event that they have, then talk to the local sport organization who may be the host of that event or facility to say, does this align with your vision of what you want to do? And gather more information about their organization, their capacity, and help them understand what the process is if they wanted to host an event.”

“The Lethbridge Sport Council are the experts in sport development and that leads to increased sport tourism. Their experience and influence in the sporting world is exactly what we need to bring more events to the region,” says Tourism Lethbridge CEO Erin Crane.

Officials from both organizations say this partnership will increase the number of events held in Lethbridge and region along with increasing the economic impact of the events through community involvement. This will also be done through assistance from the Sport Tourism Advisory committee.

In June, the National Sport Event Congress will be held in Richmond B.C. The Sport Tourism Advisory committee will be heading down to B.C. to promote Lethbridge and region as a top place to host sporting events.