According to the Oxford Dictionary, a tipping point is the point at which a series of small changes or incidents becomes significant enough to cause a larger, more important change.
In wandering through, or attempting to wander through, Banff these days, or Canmore to a lesser extent, particularly on a long weekend, one wonders if a tipping point has been reached in respect to the carrying capacity of the tourism situation.
That situation, as we are now seeing in actual numbers (page 1), is one of growth likely much greater than anyone anticipated.
Yes, Parks has been mandated with boosting tourism by two per cent each year, all manner of special events have been embraced to coax tourists to the area and Banff Lake Louise Tourism, Travel Alberta, et al, have been flogging the highlights and bounty of the valley – but 10 per cent growth last year?
No wonder, as it seemed to almost everyone you talk to, Banff seemed so congested throughout the summer months last year – it was, with the highest numbers seen in 15 years at 3.6 million visitors.
We wonder if the situation is not already at a tipping point, or possibly at a point of no return, where the ‘visitor experience’ that is referenced ad nauseum is becoming one of people showing up, spending a weekend circling town or immersed in gridlock – only to never return.
We’re quite sure the ‘resident experience’ is already at a tipping point, as those who call the town home have myriad complaints of how their home is regularly overrun by outsiders. As we’ve pointed out before, many people in Banff are not visitors, they simply call the town home and don’t appreciate sharing it with so many others.
Like Calgarians who book their out of town holiday during Stampede to avoid the crush, will Banff eventually become a town to avoid, rather than embrace, on long weekends? Or most weekends?
Not everyone is willing to spend hours stuck in gridlock trying to find a parking spot from which they can then experience what Banff the town, as opposed to Banff the national park, has to offer.
Then there is the business climate. Last year in both towns, businesses were forced to close their doors at times due to staff shortages. Nobody, visitors or residents, wants to wander through a town only to encounter businesses that are closed intermittently; that can’t be relied upon to be open when needed.
Then there is the staffing climate. For decades, Banff has been the cool place where young people arrive to work a seasonal job, take in the sights, party, meet like-minded free spirits from around the world and go home with many memories.
What they don’t show up in Banff for, though, is to work 24/7 due to staff shortages, pay outrageous rent for the privilege of spending a summer or winter in town, and go home burned out or disillusioned.
Let’s face it, without seasonal workers, Banff just doesn’t happen. And with a now-shortage of temporary foreign workers available, Banff’s staffing climate may take a hit as well as low income seasonal staffers give up ‘the Banff experience’ and stay home.
If Banff is expected to continue absorbing increasing numbers of visitors, steps will absolutely have to be taken to address critical parking and congestion issues, as well as affordable housing, which is continually referred to as the biggest issue in town, or the Banff of tomorrow may not resemble that of today.
