Thorunn Howatt
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Aug 15/01) - Tourists from Europe, Asia and the United States will be lining up at the territorial borders thanks to a $1.8 million increase in advertising money the Arctic Tourism Association plans to use to attract foreigners to the North.

Jim Watson, left, president of the Canadian Tourism Commission holds his catch -- his very first fish ever -- with David Morrison, president of Brewster and Greg Robertson guide with Bluefish Charters. - Thorunn Howatt/NNSL photo

The Canadian Tourism Commission will match a $900,000 contribution to the Northwest Territories Arctic Tourism Association from the territorial government -- allowing a joint marketing program targeting Canadian and international customers, said Canadian Tourism Commission president, Jim Watson during a stop in Yellowknife earlier this week.

Watson glimpsed at Yellowknife through tourist's eyes during his stay.

He spoke to a gathering of hospitality industry delegates, went fishing on a Bluefish Charters tour and attended a soiree at the Northern Visitor's Centre.

"Now we can do some serious advertising," said NWT Tourism's marketing director David Grindlay who added "We can get seriously into the United States, Pan European and Japanese markets."

Grindlay said major results from an international advertising campaign might not be seen for two or three years but,"We should see some people in the next year."

NWT Tourism's budget was just more than $900,000 before the signing of the contribution agreement in July by Minister of Tourism Joe Handley.

Nearly $400,000 of that was used for operations and just more than $500,000 was used for marketing.

Handley said the spending will allow the territory to strengthen its image as a tourism destination to the rest of the world.