IKPIARJUK/ARCTIC BAY
A new tourism company is about to start in Arctic Bay, designed to show off the area's resources to day-trippers and high-end tourists.

Throatsingers, Inga Muckpa, left, and Molly Oyukuluk perform for tourists in Arctic Bay. A new hamlet-owned company, Arctic Bay Adventures, hopes to draw tourists to the area for both international visitors and corporate day-trippers. - photo courtesy of Clare Kines -

Arctic Bay Adventures received approval from the minister of Community Government Services late last week.

''That allows us to move forward,'' Clare Kines, the hamlet's economic development officer and acting manager of the project, told Nunavut News/North. ''We have incorporation documents ready to go and we've got a temporary board identified so we can get going.''

Kines said the project's earliest moments came from a public meeting held in 2011. ''Basically trying to make sure tourism is what the community wanted,'' said Kines. ''And whether we should be putting our energies toward that.''

Eventually, the hamlet hired a consultant to develop a tourism strategy, which determined they would pursue a community-owned tourism organization or business which would provide continuity and develop tourism packages.

The Hamlet of Arctic Bay will be the sole shareholder of the company. While its six-person temporary board of directors is composed of a few councillors and the hamlet's senior administrative officer, Kines said there is a strong desire for the permanent board to have a business focus, with members from the hamlet council, the local hunter and trapper's organization, a representative from Nunavut Tourism and

someone from the Kakivak Association.

Kines said the company will offer a wide range of products, including wholesale package tours for tour operators.

''Everything from photo safaris to fishing trips,'' he said, including ''marine-based tours such as whale watching.''

In fact, one of the equipment items that is being transported by sealift for the new venture is a fully-equipped 28-foot boat specifically for tourism in the area.

Kines also said the company hopes to develop day-trips for the hamlet's frequent number of corporate visitors.

''Either government business or medical staff or business itself,'' he said. ''Somebody comes to town, wants to go dogsledding, come to us, we'll make the arrangements and get it all done.''

When it comes to pricing, Kines didn't hesitate to admit Arctic Bay Adventures' offer ings will be fairly expensive. While most are still in development, the area's location makes it an expensive place to visit. ''A big portion of that is just getting here,'' he said. ''You have to market that appropriately.''

While there's a lot of interest in the Arctic, the company is facing competition from southern tourism hotspots like Niagara Falls and other Northern communities that are less expensive to reach.

Kines said one of the groups Arctic Bay Adventures might target are filmmakers.

''We think we've got, personally, the most beautiful spot in the Arctic,'' he said. ''And events like our floe edge is second to none.''

The new business will also work with other companies like Arctic Kingdom to provide labour.

As for funding, initially it will be through Kakivak as well as possible grants from CanNor and strategic investment from the Government of Nunavut. ''There's a plan in place for the funding to move forward until we're in a profitable situation,'' Kines said. ''It's not intended to drain the hamlet of any of its resources. It's intended to operate separately.''

Currently, four people are expected to be hired for the project full-time, as well as part-time seasonal staff for jobs like dog sledding and tour guides.

Kines has high hopes for Arctic Bay Adventures.

''It's ambitious, but hopefully the whole idea behind it is to take advantage of an underexploited resource here,'' Kines said. ''It's an exciting time.''

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