Portage Regional Economic Development's presented their five-year tourism plan to the RM of Portage la Prairie Council at their meeting this morning.

Executive Director Vern May says a significant focus is doing a better job of collaboration when it comes to tourism. He points out there are 18 or 20 organizations operating in silos.

"They have limited budgets for marketing, where they're not able to tackle the bigger projects," he says, "What we're looking to do is to make a transparent use of the Accommodation Levy in a way that is measurable and tangible for people to see where that money is being spent. And that's not just the public, that's also the hoteliers and the hospitality industry, who are paying into that tax. And so they've been consulted as part of that process as well."

Reeve Kam Blight sees the plan as a great start, and credits May's work in connecting with organizations in the city of Portage, and in the immediate vicinity.

"We encourage Vern to make sure and reach out to the residents, and other groups and businesses in the rural part of the RM," he says, "Not just the ones that are in tight to the city of Portage la Prairie, proximity-wise. We feel very encouraged by it, it's a great start, and we look forward to where the next few months take us."

May agrees.

"So, if you're part of a non-profit board, or an organization," he says "And you do any hosting, if you haven't already spoken to me, or I haven't reached out to you, we definitely want to connect."

You can read the five year plan here.