RADF Investment: $5 million

Other Investment: $1,719,988

Total Investment: $6,719,988

Project Period: August 2009–October 2012

T: 403.823-7743
E: [email protected]

Project Description

Support from the Rural Alberta Development Fund will help create a virtual Tourism Development Centre that will serve as a portal for business and workforce training, policy tools, and other resources focused on expanding regional tourism in southeastern Alberta. Seventeen short, intermediate, and long-term tourism programs are being created and delivered, eight tourism hubs are being established, and access to tourism destinations is being enhanced. Canadian Badlands Ltd. is partnering with 56 southeastern Alberta communities on this initiative.

Expected Outcomes and Benefits

All projects go through a selection process to ensure they will improve the quality of life for Albertans. This project meets this objective through the following outcomes and benefits:

• Consolidate regional tourism resources to increase efficiency and ease of access
• Increase awareness of southeastern Alberta as a tourist destination
• Increase economic benefits for regional businesses and tourism operators
• Develop a tourism model that can be adapted in other regions of the province
• Develop Tourism Master Plans in Medicine Hat, Taber, Drumheller, and Lethbridge
• Obtain contract agreements with Alberta Tourism, Parks and Recreation to create provincial park development plans
• Deliver training and education for civic leaders, business owners and operators, and the tourism-related workforce
• Set the stage for southeastern Alberta to be a tourist destination
• Empower small rural villages and towns to capitalize on something they could not do on their own