People right across the country are taking time to recognize the importance of tourism to the Canadian economy and that includes Banff - Airdrie MP Blake Richards.

May 27th through June 2nd is Tourism Week in Canada.  Richards took the time earlier this week to celebrate tourism as well as to recognize a long time tourism advocate.

Richards say, "Obviously with the Rocky Mountains and the Bow Valley being part of the constituency, I think we have the most beautiful tourism destination in the entire country and that's no easy feat because we certainly have a beautiful country.  We have a lot to offer here.  During my time in parliament, it's something I've tried to advocate for is making sure our tourism industry is thought about when policy is being made.  It's one of the bright spots in our economy right now."

Year after year, Banff National Park remains the most frequented destination of tourists with over four million visiting in 2016/2017.  However, Richards feels it's more than mountains that keep them coming back.  It's the people they interact with.

"One of the messages that I had when we held our tourism week celebration that we held is that we have to remember that everyone is part of the tourism industry.  From the small business owner to the person that pumps your gas to the person that serves you in the restaurant to the person who makes a bed in your hotel room.  Everyone is part of the tourism industry and that is why people keep coming back because of the great service and wonderful experiences they have."

Of course, Richards constituency covers more than just Banff and he says there are great tourist destinations in Airdrie, Cochrane and other locales.

"We're really fortunate where we live.  We've got the Rockies right on our doorstep but there's more than that.  Cochrane has the western heritage.  In the Airdrie and Balzac areas, we've got some world-class shopping now.  There's great recreation opportunities. We forget sometimes that tourism is also those hockey tournaments we host or soccer, those kinds of things are tourism as well.  We have some great facilities to host things like that.  That's all tourism too."

Every year on tourism week, Richards honour someone who has contributed to the tourism industry.  This year it was service station owner Paul Kalra from Dead Man's Flats.  

"He's one of those unsung heroes.  He endeavours to make sure that his service station is one that people want to come to, not just because they need gas, but they actually want to stop because the service is so great.  I think that's really a fine example of exactly how everyone needs to understand that they're all part of the tourism experience."

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