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Alberta Sub-Regional Planning Input and Operators


Alberta’s tourism and recreation sector is far more than a "nice-to-have" amenity, it is a vital economic engine and a core part of our quality of life that belongs at the heart of provincial land-use planning. By submitting feedback on the Ghost-Kananaskis plan by June 5, operators can help formalize tourism and recreation as legitimate land uses, establishing the regulatory stability and investment certainty our industry requires.


Environmental stewardship and predictable commercial access can work hand-in-hand to support Alberta's social, economic, and environmental legacy.


Tourism operators encouraged to give feedback to the Alberta government

Ghost-Kananaskis SRP Closes June 6, 2026

The Government of Alberta is currently in a period of accelerated policy development for sub-regional plans (SRPs) that will define land use, access, and stewardship for at least the next ten years.


While the current public process is open for feedback on the Ghost and Kananaskis regions, this is part of a much larger provincial target to complete several Sub-Regional Plans over the next 18 months; two regions are already finished, two are under review, and the province has committed to addressing even more in the coming year.


For Alberta’s tourism and outdoor recreation sector, our stakeholders have historically remained "invisible" in these planning frameworks. Leaving weak formal mechanisms for collaboration, engagement, or functional operator access. To remain competitive, land-use planning in Alberta must evolve to treat tourism operators and investors not as a secondary "nice-to-have" amenity, but as a vital economic engine that coexists with other uses and enables investment in sustainable recreation. TIAA's Groundbreaking Economic Impact of Crown Lands Study Six Action Items from the Study



Predictability in Use and Access


Any economic sector depends on a stable and predictable regulatory landscape. In the recent

TIAA-Leger Annual Tourism Business Conditions Survey, one in four respondents stated that land-use certainty is a top factor in their investment and capital deployment decisions.  

When planning frameworks are ambiguous or fail to provide clear direction for commercial activities, they act as a deterrent to the private expertise and capital needed for sustainable world-class experiences and infrastructure. From TIAA’s perspective, getting the rules of the road right is the only way to ensure businesses can invest with confidence while effectively stewarding the natural environment.  


Principled Planning

The Outdoor Council of Canada (OCC), supported by the Tourism Industry Association of Alberta, has proposed a principled planning model where public and commercial access are recognized as self-reinforcing through five top-line principles:


  1. Recognition of Legitimacy  Formalize tourism and recreation as legitimate, long-term land uses within the provincial framework.  


  2. Stewardship Through Use Promote environmental protection through sustainable human use on the landscape.


  3. Stakeholders as Partners

    Utilize outdoor recreation, commercial tourism stakeholders and environmental experts as key enablers of public access, tools for conservation, and effective human management. 


  4. Investment Certainty Ensure appropriate public and commercial access through long-term investment certainty for infrastructure.

  5. Local Economic Integration

    Prioritize community-led tourism and recreation developments that offer sustained local economic participation and integration.  


How to Take Action

The provincial government is open to direct input from the operators, managers, and users who steward these landscapes daily to ideally ensure final plans reflect the reality of multiple industries and the public interest(s). The OCC has provided a suite of easy to use tools to help you frame your feedback effectively and quickly.


Any of these suggestions can be edited to meet your organization's specific perspective.  



1. Submit a template letter to Alberta Environment and Protected Areas. (less than 10 minutes and makes a real difference)


2. Submit aligned survey feedback using your own or Outdoor Council of Canada's draft responses. (~5min)


3. Share this with other operators and businesses in your network.


The template letter, survey feedback and more information are at:


Written submissions can also be emailed directly to: ghost-kananaskis-srp@gov.ab.ca.



"For Alberta to be a leader in outdoor experiences and a global competitor for tourism capital, we must send a clear and consistent signal that our landscapes are managed through stable, best-practice frameworks. Predictability is the foundation of Alberta's economy, and the conditions on the ground must match our provincial ambitions for sustainable growth."

Darren Reeder 

President & CEO

Tourism Industry Association of Alberta



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