"Moose Jaw" is a unique and memorable name.

When you're in the tourism business, that's a good thing.

This is Tourism Week, and Tourism Moose Jaw is celebrating all of the things that make Moose Jaw a wonderful tourism destination, including our name.

Executive Director Jacki L'Heureux-Mason says people, especially Americans and other foreigners, love to say our name. 

She pointed to the recent success a Canadian pro golfer, who was born in Moose Jaw but moved away as a toddler, as a prime example.

"When Adam Hadwin won the PGA tournament (Valspar Classic in March), announcers got to say 'Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan'," she explained. "Even though he resides in Vancouver, people really identified him as being a Moose Javian at birth."

L'Heureux-Mason says that in addition to the Hadwin story, Moose Jaw has been on the receiving end of "organic" advertising, amounting to increased worldwide attention. 

It includes Rogers Hometown Hockey stopping in Moose Jaw in early January, and Moose Jaw's Siera Bearchell, the reigning Miss Universe Canada, making the Top 9 at the international pageant in the Philippines later that same month.

"A lot of people, especially in the Phillipines, are looking to Moose Jaw as a destination now," L'Heureux-Mason stated.  "We are getting so many calls, from Wisconsin, which may have had something to do with the PGA broadcast, and the Phillpines, Thailand and other places where people are asking for our Visitor Guide."

She says the 2017 numbers show that the word is getting out. 

"In 2016 we had just over 30,000 people come through our Visitor Centre," she said. "We know that only represents about five per cent of the actual people who come into our city with conferences and other things. May was up substantially, almost 10 per cent (from last year). For the year, we're up about 11 per cent."

And when they come, they spend. 

"2014 was the most recent numbers (from Tourism Saskatchewan) and they follow the formula that everybody that visits Moose Jaw spends about $180 a day."

As for what people want to know when they arrive?

"The most common questions are 'where is the best burger (and) best place to eat?'" she said. "People are always looking for local things. They want to know who has good, local food or other things. On top of that, people are always asking for recommendations for what to do with the kids."

L-Heureux-Mason is excited about what lies ahead this summer, including the launch of the revamped Trolley Ghost Tours, and Sidewalk Days. 

Tourism Moose Jaw has taken over operating the annual downtown street fair, which runs July 6-8.