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Canmore, a vibrant mountain community of 15K year-round residents situated in Alberta’s Bow Valley, wants to hire a PR firm to shape a sustainable tourism future for the community.
About a third of Canmore’s housing stock is owned by non-residents, which boosts the effective population to about 20K.
The one-time mining town now boasts boundless recreational opportunities and creative cultural offerings that attract weekend trippers and expands peak travel seasons.
Though tourism is Canmore’s primary economic driver, residents are not happy about the way the business is being developed.
Canmore’s destination management organization has adopted a strategic plan, calling for tourism to be developed in a “purposeful and deliberate effort” in order for the town to “retain its authenticity and maintain its attractiveness to visitors and residents.”
The plan warns that if businesses and the community fail to work together, the result could be over- tourism and a decreased quality of life for residents.
Conversely, “If the region chooses to act proactively, it has an immense opportunity to become an iconic, internationally known destination and a leader in sustainable development.”
Canmore will select a firm to design a program that preserves the social fabric of the community, maintains its ecological integrity, ensures long-term economic health and provides stakeholders an opportunity to contribute to the tourism framework.
Proposals are due Feb. 5. They go to Lisa de Soto, chief administrative officer, Town of Canmore, at [email protected].
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