Tourist Attractions Sign Program

Signs for Tourist Attractions

Tourist Oriented Directional Signs (TODS) use simple symbols to indicate various types of tourist attractions, from campsites to museums. These signs are great for for attractions located at a rural address or within communities with a population base of 25,000 and under. They make it easier than ever before for motorists to locate popular attractions and facilities.

Tourism Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for a Tourist Attraction sign, tourism must be one of your core business activities.
In order to prove this you must:

Provide a substantial experience for tourists in addition to, or as part of your business
Have all relevant licences and approvals to operate as a tourist attraction or facility
Have appropriate directional signs off the highway to lead motorists to the facility

If you’re unsure if you meet eligibility criteria, head to the Application – it will determine eligibility for you.

The complete eligibility guidelines are also listed on the Eligibility page.

Application

Eligibility Criteria

Application Process

The application provides a fair and equitable system for tourism operators across the province when applying for signs:

Your application is evaluated using up-to-date operational criteria guidelines
If you meet the criteria your application is approved within 30 days
If additional information is required, you will be notified within the 30-day timeframe
In the event of a refusal, you have the right to appeal

Apply Now

Cost

A five-year Permit Fee is paid by the business to cover the cost of fabricating and maintaining the sign panel showing their name.

This program is being managed on a ‘cost-neutral’ basis – permit costs for signs help support and sustain the program
Alberta Transportation will continue helping tourist attraction operators this year who want to put up signage for the first time by providing a one-time subsidy for permit fees. A $400 fee waiver for up to two Tourist Oriented Directional signs per attraction has been in place since 2008 to assist facility operators by covering a portion of the initial permit fee. This program is being managed on a ‘cost-neutral’ basis – permit costs for signs are deposited into a “revolving fund” to support and sustain the program.
Permit fees will vary and are governed by: attraction type, highway type, visitation numbers, number of signs, etc…, as determined by eligibility and placement criteria.
All permit fees are set by Alberta Transportation and are current for this fiscal year. However, program costs will be reviewed and adjustments made on an annual basis.
Permit fees are for a five (5) year term and include all costs – design, manufacture, installation and maintenance, (maintenance includes unlimited coverage and protection for repair / replacement against your program signs) for the five year term.
TODS Permit Renewal fee Rebate- The Ministry of Tourism and Sport is waiving the renewal fees for Tourist Oriented Directional and Community Attraction Facility signs permits that are currently about to expire this year.