What
is the Heritage Tourism Strategy?
The primary aim of this strategy is to sustain Banff as a
tourism destination by preserving and celebrating the beauty
and ecological integrity of the park and surrounding areas.
Powerful and memorable positive heritage experiences offered
to visitors will contribute to our reputation as one of the
world’s most unique and environmentally sound tourism
destinations.
The Heritage Tourism Strategy complements
the Park Management Plan, the Banff Community Plan, and the
Lake Louise Community Plan by working to sustain the health
of the tourism industry within the national park context. The
Heritage Tourism Strategy supports a view of Banff that focuses
specifically on heritage values compatible with landscape and
heritage appreciation. The Heritage Tourism Strategy assures
that the objectives of the Banff National Park tourism industry
are consistent with changing ecological circumstances in the
park.
The strategy is based on the fact that Banff has something
that is becoming rarer and more valuable in the world — an
authentic culture grounded in nature. It is the aim of the
strategy to ensure that the natural character of the park remains
its chief distinction as a tourism destination. Though it affects
the form and content of tourism advertising, the Heritage Tourism
Strategy is more than a marketing initiative.
In order to realize the Heritage Tourism Strategy it is necessary
to fulfill four linked objectives. The objectives of the Banff
Bow Valley Heritage Tourism Strategy are:
- to make all visitors
and residents of Banff National Park and the Town of
Banff aware they are in a national park and World Heritage
Site
by actively fostering appreciation and understanding
of the nature, history and culture of Banff National Park,
the Town
of Banff and surrounding areas;
- to encourage, develop
and promote opportunities, products and services consistent
with heritage and environmental values;
- to encourage environmental
stewardship initiatives upon which sustainable heritage tourism
depends;
- to strengthen employee
orientation, training and accreditation programming as it
relates to sharing heritage understanding with visitors.
We believe there is an intrinsic value to the natural and cultural heritage
of this region and that heritage is in and of itself worthy of preservation
and commemoration and celebration.
Our tourism industry has a responsibility to help visitors
understand, appreciate and respect our natural and cultural
heritage so they can contribute to its preservation.
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