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 A group of Japanese tourists roast marshmallows while touring the North through Aurora Village. Yellowknife tour operators are not concerned that Japanese tourists are flocking to Alaska this winter. - photo courtesy Aurora Village |
Close to 900 tourists have been booked onto 747 jumbo jets destined for Fairbanks, Alaska, on a direct flight from Japan. The first flight of 291 Japanese tourists touched down in Fairbanks on Dec. 29.
Tourism representatives and operators in Yellowknife are not "weeping and wailing," as was reported in the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner on Dec. 30. Rather, Yellowknife's operators and industry representatives are taking the development in stride.
Acting president of the Northwest Territories Tourism Association, Myron Miller, said Japanese tourists are still looking for a safe and secure environment in which to spend their vacation. He added since the Sept. 11 World Trade Centre tragedy, Japanese tourists are still highly skeptical of travelling anywhere in the United States.
At the same time, Miller did admit the American economy and infrastructure surrounding Fairbanks is better than what exists in Yellowknife.
Miller, who is also manager of customer service with First Air, said it is possible for 747s to land here, but added Yellowknife's infrastructure for hotels and tourism operators might not be able to handle an influx of 300 Asian tourists at any one point in time.
"I'm not sure if it's feasible at this point," he said.
Hideo Nagatani, general manager for Aurora Village, says all indicators point to a strong season for aurora viewing. He does not consider the charter flights to Alaska as a great threat.
"Overall, the companies not in this initiative are still strong into Yellowknife. Our numbers are increasing," he said.
"We have talked about bringing charter flights in. The drawback is bringing 300 people at one time will cause infrastructure problems," said Nagatani.
He added he wants to see direct flights from Vancouver to Yellowknife. "Vancouver to Yellowknife would solve a lot of problems," he said.
On Sunday, Air Canada cancelled a flight from Edmonton to Vancouver connecting to Japan and many people had to overnight in Vancouver, said Nagatani.
"Canadian North and First Air does a good job to Edmonton. Air Canada flights from Edmonton to Vancouver are small. If the connection is improved from Vancouver to Yellowknife, that would really be helpful," he said.
