Spring tourism growing in Banff National Park. Here's what it means for business and wildlife - Action News
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Spring tourism growing in Banff National Park. Here's what it means for business and wildlife

While summer is still by far the busiest time of year in Banff National Park, shoulder season visits are on the rise, according to the latest park management plan. That's good news for tourism operators but raises concerns for local wildlife.

Shoulder season visits on the rise, according to park management plan

Nelson and Debbie Brentlinger are pictured at Johnston Canyon in Banff in April 2023.
Debbie and Nelson Brentlinger were visiting Banff this month on their way to Niagara Falls. (Paula Duhatschek/CBC)

Around 10 a.m. on a chilly April morning, the parking lot at Johnston Canyon is quiet but starting to fill up.

It's a far cry from the busyness of the peak summer season when the lot couldbe jam-packed already but shows that even during off-peak months, the attraction still reliably draws visitors from all over the world.

Among them was Nelson Brentlinger, in townfrom Colorado with his wife on an extended golf vacation, and Chris Knihnitski, visiting from Saskatoon with his young family.

"We're loving it," said Brentlinger, even if it's "more snowy than we anticipated."

Chris Knihnitski is pictured with his family during a trip to Banff National Park in April 2023.
Chris Knihnitski is pictured with his family during a recent trip to Banff National Park. (Paula Duhatschek/CBC)

"So far it's excellent," said Knihnitski. "It's nice and quiet, lots to do."

Shoulder season visitors like Brentlinger and Knihnitskiare becoming more common in Banff National Park, at least according to thelatest park management plan, released last year.

Visits to the park have gone up about 30 per cent in the last decade, the report said, and the park now welcomes more than four million people a year.

While the parkis getting busier all year round, "the most significant visitation increases are in spring and fall, with daytime visitors taking in key attractions accessible by vehicle," the report said.

Year-round demand a goal for tourism industry

Nancy DaDalt, director of visitor experience with Banff and Lake Louise Tourism, is pictured in Banff in April 2023.
Nancy DaDalt, director of visitor experience with Banff and Lake Louise Tourism, says sustaining year-round demand is one of her organization's top priorities. (Paula Duhatschek/CBC)

Summer remains by far the busiest time of year, said Nancy DaDalt with Banff Lake Louise Tourism, with other bumps during ski season, especiallyaround Christmas and March break.

But she, too, has noticed an uptick in shoulder season visits something her group hopes to encourage. Building more year-round demand is priority No. 1 in its latest business plan.

"We specifically do work towards building more sustainable demand, so we don't have peaks and valleys," she said.

Evening out demand throughout the year makes life easier on both tourism operators and employees, said DaDalt. If someone hopes to build a life in Banff, she said it's difficult when they're run off their feet in the summer and at Christmas, butdon't have enough work the rest of the year.

"We want to look at how can we level that off, so that people have year-round employment, we have a good levels of service for the visitor and then we have a greater community overall as well?" said DaDalt.

Considerations for wildlife

Basti Brandt, an exchange student from Germany, is pictured in Banff National Park in April, 2023.
Basti Brandt, an exchange student from Germany, was visiting Banff during a break from his studies at the University of Victoria. (Paula Duhatschek/CBC)

Another Johnston Canyon visitor, Basti Brandt, was in town this month during a break in his studies at the University of Victoria.

"I hope to see some wildlife here, especially the bears," said Brandt, an exchange student from Germany.

The good and bad news for springtime visitors is that seeing a bear or other critters is a real possibility. The park confirmed its first bear sighting of the year on March 27.

Kim Fisher, interpretation coordinator at Banff National Park, is pictured in the park in April 2023.
Kim Fisher, interpretation co-ordinator for the national park, says anyone visiting during the spring should be mindful it's a sensitive season for wildlife. (Paula Duhatschek/CBC)

While spring may be a good time to visit the park during a less-busy time of year, it's also a critical season for wildlife to emerge from hibernation, to establish nesting sites and to bear their young, said Kim Fisher, the park's interpretation co-ordinator.

"It's important for us to give those animals the space they need to survive and thrive and establish those critical patterns early in the season," said Fisher.

As visitation ramps up, Fisher said it's important for springtime visitors to keep their food secure, to give wildlife plenty of space and to respect seasonal restrictions, such as a nighttime closure of a stretch of the Bow Valley Parkway intended to "give animals the space they need to thrive during the spring."

As for Knihnitski, he says his family'sspring visitto Banff won't likely be their last.

"[There's a] good chance we'll come in the summer, too, because we like traveling out west from Saskatoon," said Knihnitski. "But we'll definitely keep an eye on these shoulder seasons, because it's a little bit more pleasant."