Community Futures North Central Development says the recent tourism funding announcement from the federal government is fantastic news for northern Manitoba.

On Monday, Ottawa said it would provide funding for tourism and francophone communities across the province, with Community Futures receiving 150,000 dollars to further develop the snowmobile industry in the north.

Laura Finley, a community development officer with the economic development agency, says the funding is a boon for northern communities, as the tourism sector contributes significantly to economic growth in the north.  She explains there was a study done in 2014 just a few years ago by Travel Manitoba in all the different regions in the province to see how much money was coming in through tourism dollars and just in northern Manitoba alone there was 20 million dollars brought in from taxes and if you look at the study per night for Manitoba visitors, for example people from Winnipeg, they are spending an average of 184 dollars a night being in northern Manitoba and for US and international visitors that sky rocketed as they’re spending about 2 thousand dollars per night.

Finley explains that the funding will be used in areas that are serviced by SnoMan Trails, which includes communities like Thompson, The Pas, and Flin Flon.