Dane Gibson
Northern News Services

CORAL HARBOUR (Sep 08/99) - With almost no advance warning, more than 100 German tourists swarmed into Coral Harbour after they stopped at Marble and Coats Island.

They came from a cruise ship that was passing by. Because the visit was somewhat of a surprise, Coral Harbour outfitter Ken Beardsall said the community wasn't prepared for them.

"If we knew they were coming ahead of time, the carvers could have organized a market to show their art. Perhaps some local tour operators could have organized trips to the Kirchoffer Falls and explain the unique aspects of Inuit culture," Beardsall said.

"People from Coral feel the places (cruise tourists) are going to are part of their jurisdiction and the community isn't benefitting. We want the cruise ship operators to recognize they're in the Coral Harbour tourist zone, and to respect that."

Beardsall said members of a National Geographic film crew, working on Walrus Island with Kajjaarnaq Arctic Tours, said they've seen three cruise ships pass by. One was from France, they think the others were from Germany and Greenland.

Nunavut Tourism regional development director Dyan Gray said she has repeatedly tried to contact the cruise companies to explain to them what the coastal communities have to offer, but said they "didn't seem interested."

"Right now, the ships are travelling back and forth and I don't think they know who to contact," Gray said.

"The government is giving them the permits to land on the islands but the government is just processing the paperwork."

Gray is currently tracking down the companies who own the ships. She said if they can ensure some advance warning, the coastal communities could organize traditional skills demonstrations, displays for local artists, and local interpreters to help the groups communicate.

"We'd like to know they're coming months in advance and have one or two communities prepared to receive them," Gray said.

"It's no small feat for these communities to handle 100 people and if we don't have our services ready, they won't come back. That's something we don't want to happen."