The Red River North Regional Tourism Marketing Initiative was created when the “Manitoba Fun Belt” Board ceased to operate. It was felt that a new approach to tourism marketing would best benefit all three municipalities in the region: St. Andrews, St. Clements and the City of Selkirk.

The mission of this cooperative effort is that Red River North Tourism, together with other tourist organizations, will regionally promote the benefits of the Red River North tourist area as a year-round tourist region by informing and reminding the public of events and attractions.

In 2000, all three councils approved a five-year plan. Community Futures North Red was awarded a one-year term contract in exchange for an administrative fee. The Promotions Committee meets three times annually to approve a budget and work plan and discuss any ideas they have for the upcoming year. The CF then carries out the approved plan and budget and communicates their efforts to the tourist organizations in the region.

Combining the attributes and funds of each municipality and marketing the region as the “Red River North” allows for the pooling of resources of the ITA, IDC and Community Futures North Red into an attractive tourism campaign that can be built upon as the region develops into the future. This initiative creates a win-win situation for the tourist operators and municipalities and thereby benefits the entire area served by Community Futures North Red.

As evidence that the promotion is working, the Tourism Info Line is reporting a considerable increase in information requests, up significantly from recent years. Tourism operators in the region have also developed a vigorous “work together” attitude that, though often difficult to achieve among potential competitors, shows a new-found commitment to the concept of regional tourism.

One of the ultimate goals among the stakeholders is to increase tourist expenditures and lengths of stay. To achieve this the group hopes to develop user-friendly materials like maps, day-trip planners and coupon books. They are also working to identify more joint marketing initiatives in the region and to establish partnerships and working relationships with both the private and public sectors, tourist operators and tourism organizations outside the region.