Released on September 23, 2008
The number of visits to Saskatchewan parks hit a high this summer drawing over three million visits, according to early estimates - that's an 11 per cent jump from 2.7 million visits in 2007. This is the highest ever number of visits since parks moved to modern entry calculations in 1990.
"This is exciting news," Tourism, Parks, Culture and Sport Minister Christine Tell said. "Our parks offer some of the best recreation opportunities in Western Canada and it is obvious that more and more people are visiting our parks. The increase in visits is partly because more Saskatchewan residents are spending their vacations closer to home and making repeat visits to the parks. Our provincial parks also continue to be a major attraction for tourists from outside the province."
The ministry has invited provincial park campers to take part in a survey. Surveys will be collected until the end of September. So far, 3,100 campers have completed the survey. An impressive 85.4 per cent of respondents indicated satisfaction with their camping stay.
The results of this camper survey will be used in the planning of more improvements to the facilities, programs and services offered in Saskatchewan's provincial parks. Those who have received an invitation to participate in this survey, but have not yet completed it, are encouraged to do so as soon as possible.
The province's commitment to improving our provincial parks is demonstrated by the current, four-year, $20-million program to upgrade the parks. The improvement plans include adding electrical service to 1,000 park campsites. Visitors to Saskatchewan's provincial parks will be able to start using some of the upgraded campsites next spring.
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For more information, contact:
Janet Peters
Tourism, Parks, Culture and Sport
Regina
Phone: 306-787-4967
Email: janet.peters@gov.sk.ca
Cell: 306-533-4909