I am writing to express my…

I am writing to express my strong opposition to the proposed legislative amendments to the Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act, 2006 (PPCRA), and the Historical Parks Act, which would enable the Town of Wasaga Beach’s “Tourism Enhancement Proposal.” Although these amendments might seem well-intentioned at first glance, aiming to enhance visitor experience, boost local business, and modernize public spaces, there are significant underlying concerns that need to be addressed.

The issue of overtourism is a growing global problem that undermines the very qualities that attract visitors in the first place. Even small to mid-sized communities have experienced tourism overwhelming local infrastructure, displacing residents, and damaging natural environments. If we move forward with this proposal, Wasaga Beach will likely follow the same path.

Some comparable examples of small-scale overtourism:

- **Tofino, British Columbia:** This small surf town on Vancouver Island has struggled with massive tourist influxes. The local housing market has been overtaken by short-term rentals, forcing out year-round residents, while parks are stretched beyond capacity during peak seasons.
- **Bar Harbor, Maine (USA):** Adjacent to Acadia National Park, this town has faced traffic gridlock, parking shortages, and increased environmental pressure from cruise ship tourism. Locals have pushed back against unchecked growth, warning that the area’s charm and sustainability are at risk.
- **Banff, Alberta (Townsite):** While often discussed in national park terms, the actual town of Banff has just 8,000 residents and is overwhelmed by millions of tourists annually. Traffic jams, garbage overflows, and strain on emergency services are now commonplace, forcing the town to implement visitor caps and vehicle restrictions.

Furthermore, there are numerous global examples that illustrate the detrimental impacts of overtourism:

- **Venice, Italy:** Surging visitor numbers (30 million/year) have forced restrictions like cruise ship bans and €5 entry fees to manage crowds and protect infrastructure. Residents decry the loss of housing and community, calling Venice a “museum city devoid of soul.”
- **Barcelona, Spain:** With 15–30 million visitors annually, the city has faced protests, enforced caps on short-term rentals, and moratoriums on new hotels to combat housing displacement and infrastructure overload.
- **Machu Picchu, Peru:** Once open to unlimited tourism, visitor restrictions were implemented due to erosion, crowd damage, and UNESCO concern. Permits are now capped, and timed entry enforced.
- **Maya Bay, Thailand:** Closed permanently after coral reef damage from tourist activity degraded the ecosystem.

These examples demonstrate a clear pattern: even places of global renown have had to give up tourism space to preserve ecological, cultural, and social balance.

This proposal is not “anti-tourism”—it’s pro-future. However well-intentioned it may be, it risks turning a community treasure into just another tourist product—overused, overbuilt, and under-loved. We must not follow the same destructive path taken by overtouristed hotspots elsewhere. Instead, we can support tourism in balance, preserving Wasaga Beach as a living public park worth millions of visits—not a revenue-driven beachfront redux.

Let’s not trade our children’s inheritance for hotel tax revenue and empty promises of “economic growth.” Respect the park. Resist over-commercialization. Keep Wasaga Beach sustainably protected.