Banff & Canmore Locals Want Two-Tiered Pricing For Major Attractions

Locals Vote: Should Banff Adopt Two-Tiered Pricing For Attractions?

Lower price for locals. Higher price for tourists.

We asked locals where they stand on lower prices for locals and higher prices for tourists.

Out of 743 votes, 85.73% supported two-tiered pricing.

Canadian Parks Go Free, U.S. Hikes Fees For Tourists

What’s Happening? Japan and the U.S. are making foreigners pay more to visit their national parks. Canada? It just made them free.

Japan’s Plan. Starting this year, Japan introduced two-tier pricing at major attractions and implemented crowd controls on Mt. Fuji. The goal: reduce overtourism, protect landmarks, and ensure tourism dollars stay in local communities.

Trump’s Move. Last week, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order to raise national park fees for foreign visitors. The policy also prioritizes American residents in reservation systems. The White House says it’ll help fund conservation efforts and address a major staff shortage while offsetting proposed budget cuts to the National Park Service.

Meanwhile in Canada…With the new Canada Strong Pass, national parks are now free until September 2nd for everyone, including international tourists. That’s a sharp contrast to the approach embraced by Japan and the U.S.

Comments Comments

• "Oh Great! Make Banff more expensive and for the Elite only!! I spent 30 years in Banff and now you want to charge me twice as much!
  Greed … plain and simple."

• Access to Banff National Park is becoming increasingly difficult for locals who would like to use it regularly or take a visitor to see the sights.

• "Absolutely! The Bow Valley is our home and I'm sick & tired of not being able to access Lake Louise and other beautiful places in my own backyard for hiking/recreational purposes because of ridiculous, increased visitor numbers.
  Public transit should not be increased for locals, but most definitely should be for tourists."

• Alberta and I assume all Canadians pay taxes to support provincial and national parks. An extra fee for those who visit from outside of our borders is not unreasonable.

• Locals want to still be able to go to our lakes. We work hard to live here.

• Local Albertans should definitely get a break in pricing due to it being our own backyard.

• Tourists are getting access to the shuttles faster than locals can. Maybe we need separate shuttles for the locals!

• Funds generated from tourists are required to protect the parks & ecosystem.

• It depends on who would be considered locals. Only Bow Valley residents or hopefully all Albertans would be considered locals.

• But please consider a Calgary resident a ‘local’.

• This practice would only give the rich and privileged tourists the opportunity to experience one of the most beautiful parts of Canada. I would think we don’t want Banff National Park to become a destination only for the privileged. Along with privilege can come entitlement. That’s not what Canada aspires to become. But that’s just my opinion. I’m all for providing locals with a loyalty reward or discount as well.

• A two-tiered system may give locals an opportunity to actually enjoy where they live.

• I love that people from everywhere get to visit our beautiful part of the world. I do sometimes feel trapped in my own town—not able to easily go to local spots to enjoy; lines at restaurants, overcrowded trails, and avoiding the TCH due to bumper-to-bumper traffic... frustration expressed by visitors about the lack of parking so driving around and around trying to find a spot... I was thinking the park gates might actually have to have a sign that shows the number of visitors in the park "at any moment" and once it hits a capacity number no one else gets to enter.

What Do You Think?

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