Badlands looking to act on plans in 2010

ANDREA KLASSEN Medicine Hat News

After several years of consultations and planning, 2010 promises to be a year of action for staff at Canadian Badlands Ltd.

The organization, which represents 62 municipalities in southeast Alberta, was created in 2007 to promote tourism in the Badlands area, with the goal of turning the region into an internationally recognizable travel destination.

Executive director Cindy Amos says Canadian Badlands has spent much of its time until now identifying program needs and securing funding.

"This is the year where we're putting our programs into action," she adds.

In Medicine Hat, programs will include a tourism-based business incubator done in partnership with Medicine Hat College and Community Futures Entrecorp. New businesses using the incubator will receive advice and support from other tourism industry professionals, as well as help with setup and growth.

“We've got lots of graduates coming out of the global tourism adventure course in Medicine Hat,” says Amos. “What we're trying to do is build a business investment plan so those graduates will have an opportunity to work within the Canadian Badlands if they so chose, rather than being forced to go to other areas like Banff."

Leadership and workforce development training for Badlands communities will also be on offer this year, along with a new Canadian Badlands website designed specifically for tourism providers and communities in the region.

The new site - an extension of canadianbadlands.com - will provide tourism statistics and, Amos says, make it easier for businesses in the region to communicate with each other. She’s also hoping it will attract new tourism businesses, such as resorts or hotels, to communities in the Badlands.

In Medicine Hat, Canadian Badlands will also partner with the city to create a tourism development plan, which Amos says will focus on connecting the downtown and Esplanade with tourist sites like the Historic Clay District.

"When a visitor comes into your town,” Amos explains, “they want to be able to park their car and access a lot of attractions at the same time."

Despite recent economic difficulties, Amos says many destinations in the Badlands - including Medicine Hat’s Medalta Potteries site - reported increases in tourism.

She says she’s optimistic about the year ahead, and that the Badlands initiative has progressed farther in three years than she expected, largely due to support from businesses and communities in the region.

“We've been able to secure such a significant partnership that we attracted the funding we need to build this iconic destination,” she says. “It's a marvel."

NEWS PHOTO EMMA BENNETT Canadian Badlands staff members Jody Lamb, regional development specialist, Cindy Amos, executive director, and Judy Brown, tourism coordinator. Canadian Badlands Ltd. was created in 2007 and represents 62 municipalities in southeast Alberta.

Photos courtesy the Canadian Badlands

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