Banff tourism officials have joined the call for better management of visitor traffic in the most heavily visited parts of the national park.

In a document outlining its development plans for the next decade, Banff and Lake Louise Tourism says it wants to reduce damaging traffic bottlenecks through improved public transit and fewer private vehicles.

B次元官网网址淭his is a priority,B次元官网网址� said CEO Leslie Bruce. B次元官网网址淧rivate vehicle traffic is one of the single biggest challenges in terms of our congestion and our ability to be sustainable.B次元官网网址�

Managing increased visitation in Banff National Park is becoming a major park issue. Traffic to Lake Louise, one of the parkB次元官网网址檚 most popular sites, has increased 71 per cent over the last decade and its parking lots are full round the clock.

Parks Canada recently released a report of its own calling for more mass transit in the Lake Louise area. It also closed the road to Moraine Lake, near Lake Louise, to private vehicles B次元官网网址� a move that drew criticism from the Alberta government.

But BruceB次元官网网址檚 group, which heard from more than 2,000 residents and worked with both Parks Canada and the town of Banff, concluded more public transit and fewer cars are whatB次元官网网址檚 needed.

B次元官网网址淭he discussions weB次元官网网址檙e having relate to having reliable and bookable service to the places that people come from around the world to see,B次元官网网址� she said.

Nor do those services have to be motorized.

B次元官网网址淎re there reliable bike paths?B次元官网网址� Bruce asked. B次元官网网址淎re there ways for people to get there without getting into a motorized vehicle?B次元官网网址�

Bruce welcomed Parks CanadaB次元官网网址檚 recent announcement of $71 million for infrastructure in the mountain parks, including money for improvements in Lake Louise.

The tourism group also set other goals, including educating visitors to respect the wilderness theyB次元官网网址檙e visiting B次元官网网址� both the animals that live there and the land itself.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e never worked in a role where IB次元官网网址檝e had to talk so much about human waste and I donB次元官网网址檛 mean garbage,B次元官网网址� said Bruce. B次元官网网址淲e really want to teach our guests this value of nature, which includes picking up after yourself and giving wildlife some space.B次元官网网址�

Bruce said the tourism group believes tourism in Banff must be better managed, not just bigger.

B次元官网网址淭his is not a plan for more and more and more visitors.B次元官网网址�

In a statement from spokeswoman Kira Tyron, Parks Canada welcomed the adoption of the tourism groupB次元官网网址檚 plan.

B次元官网网址淭he vision demonstrates the shared commitment that Indigenous peoples, community, businesses, and stakeholders have toward the long-term sustainability of Banff National Park for generations to come,B次元官网网址� it said. B次元官网网址淲e look forward to continued engagement with Banff and Lake Louise Tourism.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址擝ob Weber, The Canadian Press