Tourism Squamish is asking the District of Squamish to include funding for a Tourism Master Plan in the municipality’s 2026–2035 Special Operating Project budget. The request was submitted in an email to the mayor and council by Tourism Squamish executive director Lesley Weeks.
In the email, Weeks said the submission was prepared at the mayor’s request to provide council with the context, rationale, and budget information needed for this year’s deliberations. The attached letter outlines the organization’s position that a coordinated, community-aligned TMP is needed to manage rising visitation levels and ensure that municipal planning and tourism growth remain aligned over the next decade.
According to Tourism Squamish, a master plan would guide how tourism interacts with several municipal responsibilities, including land use, transportation, parks and recreation, arts and culture, marine access, economic development, housing, environmental protection, and bylaw services. The organization says the District should lead the project because tourism impacts nearly every municipal department.
The proposal recommends that the District serve as project lead while Tourism Squamish supports the work through sector expertise, visitor data, engagement coordination, and research inputs. A shared steering committee made up of municipal, industry, and community representatives is also suggested.
Weeks noted that previous attempts to start the TMP were delayed in 2023 and 2024 due to capacity challenges at both the District and Tourism Squamish. She wrote that the organization now has the staffing stability required to support the District as an operational partner in 2026. Launching the plan that year would also align with the 2025 Tourism Impact Study, which Tourism Squamish said will provide fresh data and modelling to guide the process.
Tourism Squamish estimates the plan will cost about $200,000, with the District contributing roughly $150,000 and the organization providing $50,000. Similar master plans in comparable B.C. communities typically range from $150,000 to $250,000. The TMP previously appeared in the District’s budget at $100,000, but that figure reflected a reduced scope that Tourism Squamish says would not meet best-practice standards.
The letter states that the TMP does not appear in the current draft of the Special Operating Project budget. Tourism Squamish says developing the plan in 2026 would help guide growth management, clarify community expectations, and support investment decisions affecting both residents and visitors.
