Overtourism in Banff National Park: Environmental, social and economic aspects

Mgr. Chris Cullinane

Master's thesis

Abstract:

The term ‘overtourism’ has gained steady traction since 2017, with Google Trends search data showing interest spiking over the last year in particular. Despite this continuous upward trajectory, the word still lacks a concrete definition, and interpretations remain intensely subjective and varied. Much like usage of the word itself, the existing literature on the topic is nascent but fast-growing, often building upon pre-existing concepts and theories within the wider field of tourism studies. The current focus of overtourism in both media and literature is generally centred around cities and urban areas. However, there is a distinct lack of attention given to the same topic when applied to protected natural areas like national parks. As the world continues to experience a post-pandemic tourism boom, these fragile landscapes and those that inhabit them are coming under increasing strain, bringing new challenges for management and policy. This thesis uses mixed qualitative and quantitative methods to examine the ongoing environmental, social and economic effects of tourism in the unique case of Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada, which in the 2025-26 season broke its all-time attendance record for the second time in three years. By means of a survey conducted among residents of Banff and the surrounding area (N=345) and a series of expert interviews conducted with stakeholders (N=5) representing different sectors within the national park complimented by secondary data, I discuss whether or not it can be claimed that so-called overtourism is occurring in Banff National Park, and why this is a question that poses so many complexities.

Keywords

Overtourism, Tourism, Banff, Canada, National Park, Survey, Interview, Environment, Society, Economy

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 4. 6. 2026

Thesis defence

• Date of defence: 25. 6. 2026
• Supervisor: RNDr. Ondřej Šerý, Ph.D.
• Reader: Mgr. Jiří Malý, Ph.D.

Masaryk University

Faculty of Science

Master programme / field:
Geography of Global Environmental Change / Geography of Global Environmental Change