Destination Nunavut explored
Derek Neary
Northern News Services
Monday, July 3, 2017
NUNAVUT
The Government of Nunavut officially announced its new tourism marketing campaign, Destination Nunavut, on June 8.
Arctic Kingdom offers guests a chance to see walrus, narwhal, beluga, polar bears and many other Nunaut species - photo courtesy Arctic Kingdom |
The initiative is intended to promote the territory, attract visitors and benefit tourism entrepreneurs in Nunavut. It will aim to do so through a website, social media and other avenues such as Inspiration Village, a tradeshow in Ottawa where the GN and its tourism partners have placed a staffed exhibit to attract the attention of some of the estimated 11 million people who will pass through the venue by Sept. 4.
Nunavut News/North sought opinions from some of the territory's tourism operators in regards to Destination Nunavut.
Solomon Malliki, owner of Arctic Wilderness Guiding and Outfitting in Naujaat: "If they can treat all the tourism outfitters equally then I think it will be beneficial," he said.
In his second year of business, Malliki said he has hired a couple of guides because he is fully booked for caribou hunts this season.
"Ever since I was 14 that was my dream," he said of his guiding and outfitting business, adding that he has a friend in the south who assists him with his marketing.
Graham Dickson, owner of Arctic Kingdom, based in Iqaluit: "I think there's been a lot of efforts by Nunavut Tourism by ED&T (the Department of Economic Development and Transportation) to consider all the different steps that are important: training, product development, destination marketing. I think the intent is a good one - the devil's in the details, actually making it work, sticking with it and putting it all in place, but I think the general spirit of it is nice to see."
Dickson said he'd like to see the GN go even further and treat tourism as a "serious industry," similarly to the way it treats mining.
Arctic Kingdom, which offers a wide variety of wildlife viewing and adventure tours in many Nunavut locations, has been in operation for almost 20 years. Dickson will be offering tours to the 1,080-passenger Crystal Serenity cruise ship this summer and that will create 30 jobs, he noted.
While he's witnessed "some maturing" of the tourism industry, "there's still lots and lots of work to be done to realize the potential for all Nunavummiut," Dickson said.
He said the profile of the Canadian Arctic needs to be raised further to be close to the level of Iceland or Alaska.
"Awareness is a huge issue," he said.
There can also be limitations due to hotel capacity at times, he said.
He added that creating links between tourist experiences is another objective. With a substantial choice of tourism options already existing in various communities, it's sometimes a matter of tourism operators complementing each other to give tourists a fulsome experience, rather than viewing each other as competitors, Dickson suggested.
Boyd Warner, owner of Bathurst Inlet Lodge and several outpost camps: "From what I've heard it looks like it's a good program. I think they're seeking input from Nunavut Tourism and other stakeholders so I believe it could become a very good marketing tool for Nunavut ... we're hoping Destination (Nunavut) will certainly give us a lot more exposure."
Bathurst Inlet Lodge has been in operation since 1969. Warner did caution that the GN has increased the "red tape" substantially over the years and that it should consider relaxing some of the regulations.
"I understand safety and things but it just continues to become layer upon layer," he said. "The process for anybody to become a new licensed lodge now, I think would be a huge deterrent ... it's very, very burdensome."
Warner also pointed out that while cruise ships are great for tourism, there's far fewer dollars spent in Nunavut's community's by cruise ship guests than by fly-in tourists.
"Say our guests will spend $6,000 to $7,000 to come to Bathurst, well just about all of that money directly benefits Nunavut people and businesses," he said. "Whereas a cruise ship, I'm guessing when (passengers) do some shore excursions, (they spend) a few hundred dollars for trips and arts and crafts and things."
Philip Chubbs, manager of Atco South Camp Inn and Atco Narwhal Airport Hotel in Resolute: Chubbs' focus has been more on Parks Canada, which is gearing up for increased activity at nearby Qausuittuq National Park. The park was officially established in 2015 and started receiving visitors in 2016.
"That will make a difference here," Chubbs said. "I am signed up with the (GN as a licensed tourism operator) but that's the extent of it. I have not had any input from this end (in Destination Nunavut). I'm not saying it's their fault or my fault but everything is a cost, especially within the North, to get to meetings."
Like Warner, Chubbs is cognizant that cruise ship passengers don't leave behind as much money as those who stay.
"How do we get these people to stop and spend dollars in the local community," he wondered.
