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.

害羞草研究所淭his is a priority,害羞草研究所� said CEO Leslie Bruce. 害羞草研究所淧rivate vehicle traffic is one of the single biggest challenges in terms of our congestion and our ability to be sustainable.害羞草研究所�

Managing increased visitation in Banff National Park is becoming a major park issue. Traffic to Lake Louise, one of the park害羞草研究所檚 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 害羞草研究所� a move that drew criticism from the Alberta government.

But Bruce害羞草研究所檚 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 what害羞草研究所檚 needed.

害羞草研究所淭he discussions we害羞草研究所檙e having relate to having reliable and bookable service to the places that people come from around the world to see,害羞草研究所� she said.

Nor do those services have to be motorized.

害羞草研究所淎re there reliable bike paths?害羞草研究所� Bruce asked. 害羞草研究所淎re there ways for people to get there without getting into a motorized vehicle?害羞草研究所�

Bruce welcomed Parks Canada害羞草研究所檚 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 they害羞草研究所檙e visiting 害羞草研究所� both the animals that live there and the land itself.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檝e never worked in a role where I害羞草研究所檝e had to talk so much about human waste and I don害羞草研究所檛 mean garbage,害羞草研究所� said Bruce. 害羞草研究所淲e really want to teach our guests this value of nature, which includes picking up after yourself and giving wildlife some space.害羞草研究所�

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

害羞草研究所淭his is not a plan for more and more and more visitors.害羞草研究所�

In a statement from spokeswoman Kira Tyron, Parks Canada welcomed the adoption of the tourism group害羞草研究所檚 plan.

害羞草研究所淭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,害羞草研究所� it said. 害羞草研究所淲e look forward to continued engagement with Banff and Lake Louise Tourism.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所擝ob Weber, The Canadian Press