Lethbridge is trending as one of the top domestic destinations according to recent statistics.
According to the Airbnb report, since the beginning of the year there has been a 20 per cent uptick for domestic stay searches in the region compared to the same time last year. Senior Director of Communications with Tourism Lethbridge Dominika Wojcik says it is an exciting stat to see, as compared to bigger centres Lethbridge can offer a more affordable stay.
“We know we have the world-class attractions, we have some awesome local food, we have our agritourism… We can offer some really amazing experiences to people and I think they’re taking note of that,” Wojcik says.
While Lethbridge is a top trending destination people are searching for, Wojcik adds Tourism Lethbridge is working to continue to showcase the region across Canada through numerous avenues including sport tourism, business events and travel trade.
“These are all industry-type of events that we travel to, where we actually meet with different event and travel partners to talk to them about bringing their bigger groups into our city,” she states. “There’s also our leisure marketing that we do, where we do just showcase the different types of attractions and events and things happening in our city to entice people to come here.”
The tourism organization is said to be collaboratively working with community partners such as the Lethbridge and District Exhibition, Economic Development Lethbridge and the Lethbridge and District Chamber of Commerce to sell the local community. She says a lot of the biggest markets for leisure travellers is friends and family members coming to the city.
“On a provincial level, we’ve always worked very closely with Travel Alberta, as well as the Tourism Industry Association of Alberta and we work with them to try and make sure that we’re all on the same page, that we’re all developing the same types of experiences, and that we’re maintaining those relationships with them to sell Alberta.”
“There’s Destination Canada, which is that big national push to get people to come to Canada. So we are working and collaborating on all of those levels to ensure that Lethbridge is on the map and that people aren’t just passing us by.”
In the coming months, Wojcik says Tourism Lethbridge in collaboration with the University of Lethbridge and Dr. Sidney Shapiro will be releasing the Explore Lethbridge app which can be used as an experience pass. The app will include different types of tours, self-guided and scavenger hunts, along with several other things that can be done in the city.
