NEW SIGNAGE ATTRACTS TOURISTS TO REST STOPS

Released on July 7, 2000

New signage on Highway 39 near Weyburn is inviting tourists to stop and rest

awhile.



The City of Weyburn, in partnership with Saskatchewan Highways and

Transportation, undertook the pilot project with the assistance of the

Saskatchewan South East Tourism Association.



The signs promote the Weyburn campground as a rest area. The Weyburn

campground is ideally situated adjacent to Highway 39 and includes numerous

amenities such as washrooms, picnic tables and hiking trails making it an ideal

place to stop.



"Many of the tourists who pass through Weyburn are from the United States and

are accustomed to rest areas – a place to get out and stretch, use the

facilities and let the kids let off steam," Highways and Transportation

Minister Maynard Sonntag said. "Saskatchewan doesn't have formally established

rest areas like the U.S., but our new signs are letting travellers know that

those types of services are available in and around our communities."



Highway 39 is a main north-south travel corridor. The North Portal border

crossing on Highway 39 southeast of Estevan is not only the busiest border

crossing in Saskatchewan, but also one of the busiest in Canada. Tourism

contributes an estimated $1 billion annually to the provincial economy.



"Already we're noticing an increase in tourists at the Weyburn rest area since

the signs went up," Don Strelieff, administrator of the Saskatchewan South East

Tourism Association said. "The community also benefits when travellers turn in

and do some shopping, stop for gas or have a meal."



The project will be assessed at the end of the summer to determine if similar

signage could benefit other Saskatchewan communities.



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For more information, contact:



Mike Woods

Saskatchewan Highways and Transportation

Regina

Phone: (306) 787-4804