Southern Saskatchewan has many attractions for tourists, including the province’s rugged and mysterious Badlands. Also, the vast, oceanic stretches of grasslands are breath taking. In the northern part of the province, there’s host of lakes shored with endless coniferous forests. Saskatchewan is further blessed with a collection of museums and art galleries. In Assiniboia, the Shurniak Gallery and the Assiniboia and District Museum have attracted visitors from all over Canada and the world.
With the gradual demise of the coal industry in south central Saskatchewan by 2030, communities such as Coronach, Big Beaver and Rockglen are eyeing tourism as a means of redeveloping the region’s economy. After all, tourism has been a successful venture in other provinces. Alberta experienced a record-setting year in 2016, when tourists spent $8 billion to see the Calgary Stampede, hike the Rocky Mountains and experience other adventures. The tourist industry in British Columbia had unparalleled growth in 2017, after generating $18.4 billion in revenue, representing an 8.4 per cent gain from 2016 and an astonishing 41.3 per cent increase from 2007, according to figures from the Tourism Industry Association of BC.
Saskatchewan’s tourist industry still has room to grow, but the numbers have progressively increased here as well. According to the provincial government, Canadian visitors (including residents of Saskatchewan) spent $1.88 billion tourist dollars in 2017. Also, visitor expenditures had grown by 10.4 per cent in the province compared to figures from 2016. The tourist industry will ensure continued positive growth and development in Saskatchewan. But although tourism might appear to be Saskatchewan’s economic knight in shining armour, there are many issues to deliberate over as the industry expands.
Most observers are familiar with benefits of tourism, such as an increase in employment and more localized spending. However, the shortcomings of the tourist industry might not be so obvious at first glance.
Although tourism is often seen as a remedy to preserve natural and historical attractions, this industry might actually induce environmental risks such as erosion, increased pollution, loss of natural habitats and forest fires. Tourism can be a risky business for the environment. A Czech tourist started a fire in Chile’s Torres del Paine National Park in 2005 after using a gas stove in an area where camping wasn’t sanctioned. Restorations after the fire involved a reforestation project, where 180,000 lenga plants were replanted.
Cultural degradation is another negative offshoot of tourism. Sometimes, tourism has commercialized a culture so intensely, an historic site can become altered beyond recognition as a result of increased traffic. Of all the unique sights I’ve visited in the United Kingdom, Stonehenge proved to be the most disappointing. The 4,500-year-old stone circle in Wiltshire was accessible via a crowded shuttle bus. The Neolithic stones themselves were fenced-off and situated beside the busy A303 Highway connecting South West England to London. All the mysticism of the famous stones was systematically drained by touristic infrastructure and a nearby road filled with speeding cars and lorries.
Tourism is a facet of the service industry, where jobs are often underpaid, entry level positions relying on seasonal upsurges of activity. Although successful servers, bartenders and hotel employees possess a multitude of people-related and technological skills, career advancements and promotions are often rare in the service industry. Banff, Lake Louise, Canmore and other areas of the Albertan Rockies are chocked with uninspiring hotel and tourist-related jobs during the province’s winter ski seasons. But whenever the spring arrives in Banff National Park, massive layoffs ensue as the snow dissipates off the ski slopes.
Saskatchewan’s tourist industry should continue to be developed, because there are so many natural, historical and cultural sights for sightseers to take in whenever they visit this province. However, relying on the growth of tourism alone isn’t a sustainable economic plan.
