Lorne and Riza McVicar from Halifax eagerly embraced the Canada Strong Pass, a federal initiative offering complimentary access to national parks and a 25% discount on campsites from June 20 to Sept. 2. While intended to promote domestic exploration, Lorne McVicar found the pass challenging for their vacation plans due to high demand, even questioning its availability to international tourists.
In June, the couple attempted to reserve a campsite at New Brunswick’s Fundy National Park for July, only to find it fully booked, as was Newfoundland and Labrador’s Gros Morne National Park. Despite expecting increased demand with the pass, the overwhelming popularity caught them off guard.
Parks Canada acknowledged the surge in visitors without providing specific attendance data, attributing it to consistently high visitation rates over the years. The influx of visitors, drawn by the Canada Strong Pass, has raised concerns about overcrowding at popular parks.
Concerns of overcrowding were echoed by Mike Kelly from Prince Edward Island National Park, where record visitation levels and traffic congestion were reported. Visitors were reminded to avoid walking on sand dunes to protect the coastline from erosion.
Park warden Doug Campbell expressed concerns about possible trespassing on the dunes due to the surge in park visitors. The increased traffic near popular parks, such as Banff National Park in Alberta, has led to traffic congestion, prompting discussions about long-term traffic management solutions.
Despite the challenges, Parks Canada emphasized their efforts in crowd management and ecosystem protection. The accessibility of the Canada Strong Pass to international visitors sparked debates about its intended audience, with calls for a review of its eligibility criteria.
As discussions ensue about managing park visitation, comparisons were drawn to international park access fees in countries like Ecuador and Costa Rica. The potential implementation of a surcharge for American visitors to Canadian parks, akin to the U.S. national park fee increase planned by President Trump, remains uncertain.
While the McVicars eventually secured a camping trip by monitoring Parks Canada’s reservation site for cancellations, their experience was marred by frequent site changes. Despite the challenges, they remained grateful for the opportunity to explore Canada’s natural beauty with the Canada Strong Pass.
