Tourist towns asking you to stay away this long weekend

CANMORE (CityNews) – Tourist towns have asked for space during the COVID-19 outbreak.

But with summer weather on the way, a long weekend, and Canadians looking to get out of their homes, they’re preparing for a flood of visitors.

“The town of Canmore is still not really geared up to be able to welcome all the number of visitors we normally would on a beautiful May long weekend,” said Canmore Mayor John Borrowman.

The same goes for other travel destinations across the country including Banff and Lake Louise, who are saying flat out they’re not ready for visitors to return.

The town of Jasper also reminding you that as a National Park, vehicle access continues to be suspended.

RELATED: National parks, historic sites partly reopening June 1

However, if you decide to head to one of your favourite tourist towns, there may not be much to do, to say nothing of trying to find an open washroom.

“We continue to have limited services, particularly in the downtown,” said Borrowman.

“Pretty much across the board people feel it may be too early and some businesses are choosing not to reopen but a number of businesses have been hurting financially and of course staff are out of work, so many businesses are choosing to reopen in a very controlled fashion but with a very high level of trepidation about all of this.”

While you want to have your fun, Borrowman warns you may be placing an unfair burden on locals.

“There continues to be a fairly high level of anxiety in Canmore about where this is going. I would encourage those visitors to bring their own food and supplies with them and not tax our grocery stories additionally.”

Work on long term plans to invite visitors back continues in Canmore where they’re looking at closing roads so there’s more space to walk.

Banff is working on similar strategies as they hope to roll out in June.