Tourism Works Best, When It Works for the Community

By Mike Kelly, Executive Director for BLLHA, with guest Corrie DiManno, Mayor of Banff

Having spent time together through council discussions and shared community priorities, I’ve come to value and appreciate her perspective on, and passion for, this place as Banff’s Mayor. I reached out to Mayor Corrie DiManno, to help bring that community lens into my latest post.

You see it in career pathways that begin in entry-level roles and grow into long-term opportunities. In small businesses that reflect the creativity and character of the Bow Valley. In cultural experiences that deepen understanding and connection. And in community organizations that reinvest directly into the place we all share.

You also see it in things that are easier to overlook.

Three million rides on Roam Public Transit last year, supported in part by visitor-paid parking revenues. Investments in housing, community spaces and infrastructure , including contributions from organizations like the Wim & Nancy Pauw Foundation. Access to recreation, amenities, and infrastructure that wouldn’t exist at the same level without being home to one of the most sought-after destinations in the world.

A Different Way to Understand Tourism in Banff

Too often, tourism is framed as a conflict: nature versus crowds, locals versus visitors.

In reality, Banff’s relationship with tourism is better understood as a symbiotic but high-pressure partnership.

Tourism creates opportunity — it funds our economy, supports our amenities, and enables community investment. But it also brings real pressures — on infrastructure, housing, mobility, and the lived experience of being here.

Both are true at the same time. That’s why success alone isn’t enough.

A successful tourism economy can be measured by activity. A well-managed destination is measured by whether the system holds together — whether benefits are sustained and the place itself is protected.

If success is the engine, then management is the steering and the brakes.

Tourism, in Banff, is not adjacent to community life, it is foundational to it.

As Mayor DiManno puts it, “Tourism makes a high quality of life possible for Banff. It drives our economy while supporting the essential services and amenities that residents depend on and enjoy. Just as importantly, tourism enriches our social fabric because welcoming people from around the world makes our community more dynamic, resilient, and vibrant.”

This shows up in very real ways, from a strong commercial tax base and innovative housing policies that support residents, to community reinvestment through organizations like the Pauw Foundation.

What it Takes to Get it Right

The benefits we highlight during Tourism Week don’t happen automatically. They are the result of ongoing work, alignment, investment, and sometimes difficult choices. In Banff, that often shows up through conversations that aren’t always easy:

• Mobility and congestion
• Emergency preparedness and safety
• Access and protection
• Resident sentiment

These are real challenges but defining the problem correctly is often the hardest part. Take congestion. It’s easy to describe it as “too many people.” But more often, it’s about how people move and how our systems support that movement. Understanding that distinction matters, because the solutions are very different.

Avoiding these conversations doesn’t make the issues go away. Engaging in them, even when there is tension, creates the opportunity to move forward in a more balanced way.

As Mayor DiManno notes, “It’s important to acknowledge both the benefits and the pressures tourism brings so we can work together to address its impacts in a holistic way. Meaningful, lasting change requires all sectors moving in the same direction. By openly recognizing challenges, we can take thoughtful, coordinated action that supports a high quality of life for residents while ensuring visitors continue to have a positive experience.”

That kind of alignment is already underway, particularly in transportation, with partners like Roam Public Transit and Parks Canada working together to advance more sustainable ways for people to move through the region.

Shaping the Visitor Experience

In Banff, the goal is as much about quality as it is about quantity, to manage visitation well, and in a way that supports the community as a whole. That starts with how people experience the destination. It’s about how visitors move through the community, how different areas are used, and how we ensure that both residents and visitors can continue to enjoy what makes this place special.

Banff is not a one-size-fits-all destination. Different places…and different times of year…require different approaches. Everything is connected: transportation, environment, visitor experience, and community wellbeing. That includes how we think about seasonality. In Banff, that means continuing to strengthen winter as a key part of the visitor economy. Not just as an alternative, but as a way to better distribute demand, support local businesses year-round, and create a more consistent, high-quality experience for both residents and visitors.

When that balance isn’t right, the impacts are felt. Pressure on infrastructure, challenges with how people move through the community, and strain on the natural environment all affect the experience for everyone.

When it is right, the outcome is different. Tourism supports a high quality of life, strengthens the visitor experience, and helps protect the very things people come here to see.

As Mayor DiManno puts it, “In a place like Banff, getting the balance right means fostering a prosperous economy, a strong and healthy community, and a well-protected environment. Each of these is essential, and when they are aligned, both the community and the destination can truly thrive.”

That thinking is reflected in the Lead Tourism for Good strategy, aligning economic, environmental, and community outcomes to ensure tourism continues to support this place as a whole.

A Shared Responsibility

Tourism in Banff has never been owned by any one group. It is a shared system, and its outcomes depend on how well we work together. That includes being willing to have honest conversations — even when they’re difficult.

As Mayor DiManno emphasizes, “Honest community conversations are essential to building trust and trust is what brings people to the table. By listening to and understanding different perspectives and grounding our decisions in data, we can continue to create a strong foundation for collaboration. From there, working together allows us to make meaningful, lasting progress on the challenges shaping Banff’s future.”

That’s especially relevant for the upcoming conversations around human use management, where multiple perspectives are being brought forward to define the impacts, understand what the Town can influence and how to help shape the path ahead.

Moving Forward

Tourism has been, and will continue to be, a catalyst for pride in this place.

Pride in the experiences we offer.
Pride in the environment we protect.
Pride in Indigenous connections, culture, and storytelling.
Pride in being part of a community that people from around the world are drawn to.

But more than anything, pride in being part of a community that cares deeply, even if we don’t always agree on how best to move forward.

Banff is, and will continue to be, a place for visitors. That is part of its purpose.

The opportunity, and the responsibility, is in how we continue to shape that reality. What gives confidence is the people who call this place home. A shared bond, rooted in place, and a willingness to engage in the conversations that matter.

That conversation continues this week, with the community sentiment survey now in the field until April 27th, offering residents an opportunity to share their perspectives on tourism and its role in Banff’s future.

Tourism works best when it works for the community.
And in Banff, that’s something we will continue to work toward — together!

Rooted in Place. Rising Together.

Mike Kelly
Executive Director, Banff & Lake Louise Hospitality Association