Yellowknife (Mar 01/06) - The NWT has a wealth of resources to offer tourists the world over and now it wants to make sure more people know about it.

Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment Brendan Bell launches the GNWT's Tourism 2010, a five-year, $5 million program aimed at drawing more visitors North. - David Ryan/NNSL photo

NWT Tourism will receive an additional $5 million over the next five years through the new Tourism 2010 program from the GNWT, which hopes to see another $10 million spurred from other public and private industry partners.

Tourism Minister Brendan Bell launched the initiative, explaining the plan involves five key areas: research and planning, marketing, product development, training and infrastructure.

"We think the investment can hopefully realize $145 million in total tourism spending" said Bell.

Currently that amount stands at roughly $100 million.

Increasing tourism revenue is key to diversifying the Northern economy, he said.

The announcement was welcomed by Robin Wotherspoon, NWT Tourism chairperson.

She said developing products that attract tourists and then marketing those products remains very important for the territories moving forward.

"Once the product is there, then we can market," she said.

Four different groups of tourists were seen as offering the biggest potential for growth.

These include RV and general tourists, outdoor adventure enthusiasts, European travellers and visiting Japanese Aurora viewers.

Wotherspoon said each region in the territories is unique and all of the areas can be enhanced to attract more guests and dollars from afar.