The roads heading into Jasper, Alta., are open, but officials say tourists won含羞草研究社檛 be welcome in the Rocky Mountain town for the foreseeable future.

Only the town含羞草研究社檚 5,000 residents were allowed to return starting Friday following last month含羞草研究社檚 wildfire evacuation.

At least 500 Jasperites returned over the weekend, but it含羞草研究社檚 not clear how many have chosen to stay permanently, municipal officials said Monday.

Although the roads into town are now open, the municipality含羞草研究社檚 incident commander has asked visitors to stay away for now.

含羞草研究社淭here are no hotels, there are no restaurants, there are no businesses open, and we do need the space to get our residents and our businesses back on their feet,含羞草研究社� Christine Nadon told reporters in Hinton, Alta., a town close to the national park含羞草研究社檚 eastern boundary.

Nadon also said there would be a significant police presence in Jasper and officers on patrol will ask visitors to leave.

含羞草研究社淚f you do show up in town, you can expect to be intercepted by an RCMP officer,含羞草研究社� she said. 含羞草研究社淭hey are patrolling and they are interacting with folks on a public relations mission to approach people and speak with them and sort of figure out if they don含羞草研究社檛 look like they含羞草研究社檙e residents 含羞草研究社� that they are directed to move on.含羞草研究社�

Nadon said she wasn含羞草研究社檛 sure if anyone had been asked to leave since checkstops into town were taken down early Monday.

含羞草研究社淧eople have been very good so far.含羞草研究社�

When asked, Nadon didn含羞草研究社檛 say if RCMP would arrest those who refuse to leave.

Mayor Richard Ireland said he expects people to understand that now is not an appropriate time for tourists.

含羞草研究社淧eople respect that our community is suffering,含羞草研究社� Ireland said.

含羞草研究社淚 do not think that we will be overwhelmed with voyeurism.含羞草研究社�

Both Ireland and Nadon said many businesses that cater to out-of-town visitors are still assessing damages and figuring out staffing plans before they can reopen.

含羞草研究社淭he visitor economy, unlike other industries, is so highly dependent on a labour force,含羞草研究社� Ireland said. 含羞草研究社淚f we don含羞草研究社檛 first look after our residents who provide that labour force, the visitors will not be able to come back.含羞草研究社�

About 800 housing units were destroyed when wildfires hit town on July 24.

Over the weekend, Nadon said 670 individuals had spoken with insurance adjusters on-site, more than 600 homes had gas restored and more than 500 appliances were picked up for disposal.

She also said 165 property owners have signed up to have crews sift through their destroyed homes and businesses to see if any belongings could be recovered.

Highway 16, the main thoroughfare through the national park, is now fully open after having limited hours over the past few weeks.

Alan Fehr, a field unit superintendent in the park, said Monday that although the highway is open, most of the park remains closed for recreation.

He said the Icefields Parkway between Jasper and the Athabasca Glacier area could reopen before the end of the week.

含羞草研究社淲e understand that the Icefields Parkway is an important route for many residents, many business operators, and that will be a high priority for us,含羞草研究社� he said.