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By The Canadian Press

No Surge In Visitors

Banff not as busy as anticipated despite nearby G7, say locals

Jun 17, 2025 | 9:38 AM

The G-7 leaders’ summit is nearby, but people in Banff, Alberta say they’re not feeling the surge in activity they expected.

Leaders from some of the world’s largest economies are in Kananaskis this week, an 80-kilometre drive from Banff.

A large swath of land surrounding Kananaskis Village is currently off-limits to the public.

Hundreds of media personnel are stationed in Banff, and the summit’s most noticeable impact has been the constant sound of aircraft flying overhead for security purposes.

Shannon Thoren, who works at a local art gallery in Banff, says she expected more action from the summit.

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Thoren says she enjoys the chaos of tourism season, but she hasn’t noticed an uptick in activity since the summit began on Sunday.

One local restaurant manager says June has been busier than usual, but she attributes that to a favourable exchange rate for U-S tourists and increased appetite for domestic tourism in Canada during the country’s trade war with the U-S.

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