ARVIAT
Arviat is officially on the global tourism map.

The chance to meet extremely talented Inuit carvers like Lucien Kabvitok is but one reason why the Arviat Community Ecotourism project is a finalist in an international competition. - photo courtesy Michelle Valberg

The Arviat Community Ecotourism (ACE) program is one of three finalists in the community award category of the World Travel and Tourism Council's (WTTC) Tourism for Tomorrow awards.

Mike Robbins of The Tourism Co. has been involved with what was to become ACE since he and David Pelly were retained by Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. in 2008 to advise on how to allocate the Conservation Areas Inuit Impact and Benefit Agreement Tourism Fund.

Robbins said this is one of the most prestigious awards in the global tourism industry that Arviat and ACE could ever hope for.

He said it's truly international recognition for what the Arviat team is doing in creating its own owned and operated tourism program.

"Every year, the WTTC, based in London, UK, calls for nominations for these awards," said Robbins.

"I've watched initiatives from around the world win these awards for years and what we're doing in Arviat -- empowering Inuit to create their own tourism program and businesses -- is unprecedented in the North.

"The money stays in the community instead of leaking down south into the pockets of a southern Canadian or international company.

"The WTTC received 174 nominations and the fact it selected ACE as one of the finalists is pretty significant."

The winners are selected by a panel of international judges who are experts in sustainable tourism.

Robbins said while it won't be easy to win, being a finalist will bring big benefits to Arviat and ACE such as international media exposure.

He said networking opportunities will be presented to Arviat tourism co-ordinator Olivia Tagalik, who will travel to Hainan, China, where the winners will be announced during the WTTC Global Summit this coming April.

"This will put Arviat and ACE on the tourism map.

"We're just starting to see the media machine this organization can put in place.

"ACE is out there on social media, the Tourism for Tomorrow website and its most recent newsletter."

Robbins said the WTTC's media-marketing machine will ramp-up another notch this coming week.

He said there's going to be a growing voice in the international media on the 18 finalists.

"The members of the WTTC are 100 of the largest, most prestigious tourism companies in the world.

"They can bestow an awful lot of international exposure on ACE and the community of Arviat, even if ACE doesn't come away as one of the ultimate winners."

In ACE, Arviat has a market-ready program being proven by the growing number of small groups visiting the community each year.

To sum-up ACE right now, Robbins said Tagalik has established her own company and is responsible for co-ordinating the community cultural program.

He said that includes a narrated tour of Arviat, a performance by the Qaggiqtiit cultural performance group, and the guests joining elders under a caribou-skin tent for an interpretive experience on the old days, which is a step back in time to traditional living.

"The tourists are usually housed in the locally owned and operated Katimavik Beach House or Suites.

"And ACE's cooking team, in one way or another, provides some, or all, of their meals while they're in town.

"We also have two local licensed and insured outfitter businesses set up.

"They have the training and expertise to take guests out on the land to see polar bears, caribou, birds and cultural or national heritage sites, depending on the season."

Another aspect to ACE is a bear camp located between Arviat and Churchill.

The locally-owned camp is leased by Arctic Kingdom, which hires its guides from ACE every year.

Robbins said Arctic Kingdom hopes to book seven weeks of the camp program in October and November.

He said that means revenue coming back to the community, even if it's a partnership with an outsider.

"Hopefully, over the long-term, Arviat will develop the skills Arctic Kingdom provides to operate the bear camp, but, for now, a partnership is the way to go."

For all intensive purposes, Arviat is running ACE on its own.

But, Robbins said, The Tourism Co. will continue to provide training and involve local people with ideas for tourism experiences.

He said a couple of new ideas are already in the works that may be launched during the next year, or so.

"Marketing is going to be a critical part of the program's long-term success, so we're looking at ways to enhance and supplement local marketing skills.

"The focus is to keep growing the number of people in the program annually.

"My current contract expires on March 31, but there are negotiations going on to have another five years added to the tourism fund.

"If that happens, I hope some resources will be allocated to Arviat to continue ACE's growth."