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INUVIK - Inuvik and the Mackenzie Delta had only a slight decline in tourist traffic in 2008 when compared with 2007 numbers, despite bad weather and a weak U.S. dollar.

Overall 4,719 visitors were recorded at the Inuvik Visitor Centre in 2008, or 412 fewer than in 2007.

There were many winners in the Dempster Highway Passport contest this year. Tourists and local residents submitted an entry by stopping at eight checkpoints along the highway to get their passport stamped. Arlene Hansen of Originals on Mackenzie, left, Mayor Derek Lindsay, and Gayle Gruben of the IRC drew the winners' names from 884 entries. Among the prizes awarded were a Polar Bear diamond, Town of Inuvik merchandise, and a polar bear carving created by Gayle's husband William Gruben. All the winners were from other parts of Canada, Europe, and Australia. - Brodie Thomas/NNSL photo

Tourism development officer Judith Venaas said the numbers of tourists travelling up the Dempster were comparable with 2007 numbers until the end of June. She suspects that two months of cloudy, wet weather put a hold on "spontaneous" trips up the highway after June.

She said visitors who had planned their trip to the North around driving the Dempster will usually drive it no matter what the weather. However, staff at the NWT visitors centre in Dawson City are often successful at encouraging people to spontaneously make the trip to Inuvik as long as the weather forecast is good.

"If those people had not planned to drive it and they find out it's rainy, they won't take that chance," she said.

Starting in 2004 the NWT began promoting the Dempster with the passport program. Drivers are given a small booklet and encouraged to stop at eight locations along the highway to get their book stamped. Once they collect all eight stamps they can enter a draw for prizes including a polar bear diamond and local artwork.

The passports have successfully encouraged people to stop into Tsiigehtchic and Fort McPherson, said Venaas. Before the introduction of the passport, many people made a beeline straight for Inuvik.

"At the end of 2004 we had a letter from the community of Tsiigehtchic asking if we would continue the passport program," said Venaas.

Like any other industry, the tourism market is constantly looking at its numbers and altering its business strategy. Looking at the statistics compiled from guest books, Venaas has found a jump in the number of tourists from Australia in the past two years. There are now plans to increase marketing in the land down under for the next few seasons.

Store owner and tourism operator Moe Grant said she saw a big decline in business during the 2008 season. She said it was probably a number of factors including the poor quality of the highway and the price of gas.

"Plus there are still very few tourism products available when they get here," said Grant.

Currently the Dempster Highway is still the region's major tourism "product." Grant and Venaas said there is a huge potential for tourism businesses that would provide activities for visitors. Venaas said boat tours, on-the-land trips, and ice fishing in the winter are all possible markets just waiting to be tapped.