(R-L) Minister of Tourism and Sport Joseph Schow, Owners of Running Reins Ranch Terry and Janice Scott, and team member Grace Finlan. (Supplied)

By rdnewsNOW Staff

World Tourism Day

Local tourist attraction in Red Deer County receives $250,000 grant from Travel Alberta

Sep 28, 2023 | 11:10 AM

In celebration of World Tourism Day, a local attraction in Red Deer County was given a $250,000 grant from Travel Alberta.

September 27 was World Tourism Day, created by the United Nations World Tourism Organization in 1980. This year’s theme was “tourism and green investment”.

READ: Red Deer Tourism on goal to become major events destination among Canadian mid-sized cities

Officials with the provincial government say the Minister of Tourism and Sport Joseph Schow visited Running Reins Ranch, located east of Innisfail, ahead of Wednesday to see first-hand how tourism investment grants are making a difference in the lives of Albertans.

“Alberta’s government is proud to invest in growing visitor destinations like Running Reins Ranch that celebrate the richness and diversity of Alberta’s rural destinations and provide a sustainable tourism experience for visitors to enjoy,” he said.

THIRD READING POSTPONED

Sylvan town council takes step forward in updating downtown development process

8h ago

two-vehicle collision

Highway 2 reopened after collision south of Ponoka

9h ago

Financial decision

Town of Innisfail to renovate Aquatic Centre rather than build new facility

15h ago

Running Reins offers cabin accommodations and a wide range of outdoor activities for visitors looking to combine the beauty of the Prairies with farm experiences. They also partner with members of the local Indigenous community to set-up teepee accommodations and host regular cultural programming for guests.

Running Reins Ranch teepee accommodations. (Supplied)

The province says tourism is Alberta’s number one service export sector. In 2019, Alberta welcomed 34.6 million visitors, generating $10.1 billion in expenditures and supported more than 80,000 full-time jobs.

Their Tourism Investment Program allocates $15 million annually for communities and operators to develop the province’s tourism sector. They say developing Alberta’s rural and agri-tourism sector is an essential component of the government’s efforts to grow Alberta’s tourism economy to more than $20 billion by 2035.

As part of the Tourism Investment Program, the ranch received a $250,000 grant from Travel Alberta.

“Our investment will support the building of additional unique accommodations at the ranch that will triple their capacity, emphasize their year-round offerings and create five new full-time jobs. This investment in Running Reins Ranch is a perfect example of how Travel Alberta is driving tourism growth in rural communities across the province,” said Jon Mamela, Chief Commercial Officer of Travel Alberta.

The provincial government says they continue to support regional tourism opportunities across the province, generating jobs and new tourism destinations for locals and visitors alike.

“This funding is a game-changer for us and our business. We are excited to bring our vision to life and provide visitors with unforgettable experiences while supporting the economic growth of the surrounding community,” said Janice and Terry Scott, owners of Running Reins Ranch.

In 2022-23, Travel Alberta says they funded 166 projects across 73 communities – about 75 per cent of the projects and 70 per cent of the funding were in smaller urban and rural areas of the province.

In December 2022, Alberta’s government released its Economic Development in Rural Alberta Plan, with supporting initiatives that they say demonstrate the government’s commitment to building healthy and prosperous communities across rural Alberta and Indigenous communities.