Thinking about expanding your farm business? MAFRI is offering an experiential agritourism tour on March 21^st, from 9:30 – 4:00 in Brandon. Click below for details.

http://www.travelmanitoba.com/images_tr/pdf/experiential_agritourism_study_tour.pdf

Former WFP Editor, Margo Goodhand: It never ceases to amaze, the way some Winnipeggers balk at big ideas.

Where some see opportunity -- the first national museum built outside of Ottawa, a downtown arena, a new football stadium -- others see elitist conspiracies, taxpayer boondoggles and most often, unbridled chutzpah. Call it the 'too big for your britches' perspective.

The latest example of this is the ongoing saga of the Esplanade Riel footbridge.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/westview/bonne-chance-chez-sophie-ignore-the-trolls-197933571.html

A city committee has voted in favour of a plan to allocate $3 million to upgrade Winnipeg recreation facilities for the 2017 Canada Summer Games.

This morning, Mayor Sam Katz put forward a motion at council's executive policy committee to approve $3 million in capital spending as part of the city's bid for the 2017 Canada Summer Games.

Bid committee co-chair Hubert Mesman said event will bring together about 4,500 of the country's best amateur athletes, and Winnipeg will have the chance to host up to 20,000 out-of-province visitors. He said it's Manitoba's turn to host the games, but the Games could decide to move it to another province if Winnipeg's bid is unsatisfactory.

A bid proposal has to be submitted by April 6, and the host city will be announced at the end of April.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/EPC-appproves-3-M-plan-to-upgrade-facilities-for-Canada-Summer-Games-197791611.html

Saskatchewan ranks the lowest among provinces when it comes to ensuring people serving alcohol are properly trained, says a report from the Centre for Addictions and Mental Health.

The report, titled Strategies to reduce alcohol-related harm and costs in Canada, compared provincial policies on topics such as alcohol pricing, availability of alcohol, the legal drinking age, warning labels and server training.

Saskatchewan ranked in the middle of the pack overall, but one area for improvement the report identified was in server training - and one reason it ranked low was the lack of a mandatory program.

"It is assumed that a comprehensive, intensive, evidence-based mandatory training program, which does not allow for loopholes, will have a greater potential to reduce service to intoxicated customers," the report said.

http://www.leaderpost.com/news/regina/Report+urges+mandatory+server+training/8089725/story.html

Nova Scotia's Department of Tourism has unveiled this year's marketing campaign.

The campaign is called "Take Yourself There."

It encourages would-be visitors to simply wander the province and feel relaxed and free to discover surprises.

The style and look of the ads come from the communications company, Extreme Group. This is the first time it has held the contract.

"The first step is to create that desire. So if you see that and it makes you feel like you want to look into going then we've kind of done the job," said Shawn King of Extreme Group.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/story/2013/03/13/ns-ad-campaign.html

Complete: LAS VEGAS, Nev. - The iconic "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas" sign is going green in honour of St. Patrick's Day.

Officials with the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority have partnered with their tourism-promoting counterparts in Ireland to commemorate the holiday.

The lights on the edge of the sign, which are usually yellow, will be switched out for green bulbs. Former Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman and the host of the Irish version of "The Voice" singing competition will be on hand Wednesday for an official ceremony at the sign.

Tourism Ireland has worked to turn other famous landmarks around the globe green, including the pyramids in Egypt, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro. It's the first time Las Vegas' sign has gone green.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/travel/famous-vegas-sign-goes-green-for-st-patricks-joins-other-landmarks-in-irish-tourism-push-197847361.html

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Legislators in Florida have approved a bill repealing a law from last year that requires foreigners visiting the state to have international driving permits.

The bill passed unanimously in the Florida House on Wednesday and now goes to the Senate, where it is expected to pass as well.

Under the law that quietly took effect in January, foreign drivers who didn't have the $25 permit that translates license information into English could have been charged with driving without a license.

Florida officials had said the law was passed so police weren't faced with foreign licence documents in languages they couldn't understand.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/canada/florida-repeals-law-requiring-international-driving-permit-for-foreigners-197909121.html

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines will become one of the biggest gambling centres in the world, vying with Macau, Singapore and Las Vegas for Asia's high rollers, officials of a $1 billion casino resort opening in Manila this weekend said Thursday.

Studies project that the country's gambling revenue of $1.9 billion will rise to $6 billion, which is currently what Singapore's two casinos generate, in about five years, said Michael French, chief operating officer of the Solaire Resort and Casino.

Solaire will open on Saturday as one the country's biggest hotel-casino complexes in ceremonies to be attended by President Benigno Aquino III, who is targeting 10 million tourists by 2016.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/business/philippines-touted-as-new-gambling-haven-as-1-billion-casino-resort-prepares-to-open-197954071.html

(A complete article published originally in the WFP, Mar.  '74)

Manitobans who want to camp in the Whiteshell area this summer will be able to participate in a draw to be held in the Norquay Building, 401 York Avenue, April 1 to 4, Tourism Minister Rene Toupin has announced. Mr. Toupin said only Manitoba residents will be eligible for the draw, which involves 412 camping lots in eight campgrounds. Application forms will be included in advertisements of the draw in The Free Press Friday, Saturday and Monday. All applications must be made on the forms, and accompanied by a $25 deposit. Deposits will be returned if the application is not drawn. The camping season in Manitoba officially opens May 17 and lots held under seasonal permits must be occupied within 10 days of the opening date. The draw was first held in 1973, and Mr. Toupin said last year's experience showed that here will be stricter regulations this year governing the draw and the use of the camp site