Clyde River says no to cruise ships
Pond Inlet rejects cheapskates while Arctic Bay welcomes all
Casey Lessard
Northern News Services
Published Monday, July 7, 2014
KANGIQTUGAAPIK/CLYDE RIVER
In a unanimous decision, Clyde River's hamlet council says it doesn't want any cruise ships this year, Mayor Jerry Natanine said.
Cruise ship passengers arrive in Zodiaks at Auyuittuq National Park near Qikiqtarjuaq. Clyde River hamlet council has declined to host cruise ship passengers this summer. - photo courtesy of Nunavut Tourism |
"Hamlet council decided that we don't want to deal with them," Natanine said. "We don't want them disturbing any wildlife, we don't want them dumping their sewage or throwing their garbage or anything like that this year."
He said the ban is only for this year. Four ships were going to make a stop, but he said it simply isn't worth the hassle.
"We don't want any cruise ships or any other kind of ships disturbing these inlets from Clyde Inlet to Scott Inlet because in the summer, that's where we go whaling, caribou hunting and fishing," he said.
"Hunters have experienced a number of times that cruise ships would go up there, and when they see that local people are up there hunting and they would just leave, even if the hunters wave and try to say hello. They'd ignore them and drive off. We understand that they're not supposed to disturb hunters and that's probably their reasoning. But when you're out on the land, you say hello and are welcoming. They're not like that at all."
They're not the first to turn away cruise ships, but perhaps the first to do so completely. Pond Inlet is also telling any ships that don't bring economic benefits to go somewhere else.
"The community had decided to levy a landing fee to any ships that don't request entertainment," economic development officer Colin Saunders said. "The majority of ships spend money getting cultural performances together, partaking in community activities, socializing. There are two ships - Le Boreal and Le Soleal - that usually come up that don't want to pay the landing fees, that don't request anything, don't buy artwork. Those two ships are not coming up this year. I told them if you're not going to provide any economic benefits, don't bother coming."
Saunders recalls the glory days of cruise ships visiting the community in the 1990s, when passengers on one ship spent $30,000 in just over three hours.
"Times have changed," he said. "We'd be lucky to make $30,000 in one year now."
For Arctic Bay economic development officer Clare Kines, he welcomes the decision by Clyde River.
"Tell Clyde to send their cruise ships up here," Kines said. "We want them. It's all part and parcel of our tourism strategy. We haven't had any for a number of years. We're getting one this year, as a late addition. I understand people say they don't bring in much money, but any visitor is good. It showcases your community to people, even if only $100 is spent."
| "We're not against tourism, we're against cruise ships" |
Economic Development and Transportation communications advisor Matthew Illaszewicz had not heard of other communities voicing opposition to cruise ships.
"The department respects the community's wishes and has not licensed any cruise ships to operate in or around Clyde River," Illaszewicz said by email. "However, our outfitter licence only covers guided activities on land; we don't have jurisdiction over the sailing itineraries of cruise ships."
The department is going to start working on a cruise ship and yacht management plan later this year, he said.
"If a community decides it does not want cruise ships, they are turning down both the impacts and the benefits, and we are confident that communities make that kind of decision after careful consideration."
In Clyde River, hamlet council looked at both sides of the issue.
"We're not against tourism, we're against cruise ships," Natanine said. "We want people coming in to climb our mountains and go hiking and go kayaking in our rivers. But we don't want cruise ships coming in. And when they come in, they'll come in and we have to, like puppets, perform for them and dance and show off this and show off that. When we try to sell them a pair of mitts for $60, they'll try to negotiate and bring them down to $20. There's just no benefit at all."
Responding to Natanine's criticism, the executive director of the Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators (AECO), Frigg Jørgensen, said his organization's members are encouraged to make a positive impact in the communities they visit.
"According to (our) guidelines, visitors shall not litter or leave anything behind, they shall respect locals and local cultures and they are encouraged to buy local souvenirs," Jørgensen stated by e-mail.
"Not all cruise operators carrying out operations in Canadian Arctic are members of AECO, and thereof committed to our guidelines. But AECO would be very interested in a dialogue and working with Clyde River or any other interested community, to ensure that all visits are conducted in a considerate and beneficial way for everyone involved."
