by Mark Sproxton
Northern News Services

NNSL (DEC 16/96) - NWT Arctic Tourism is getting down to business.

The fledgling tourism association for the western territories must prove to the politicians and bureaucrats who control the government's purse-strings how important the industry is to the region.

"One of our aims is getting the territorial government to open their ears to the fact tourism is the second largest industry," said JoAnne Deneron, association member from Fort Liard.

"There doesn't seem to be that level of support," she said.

President Charlie Furlong agreed, saying people must look at tourism as an investment, not a cash handout.

A business plan containing the group's cash requirements will soon be developed and presented to the territorial government.

"As with every organization, money is key," said Furlong.

On the opening day of the group's Dec. 6-9 conference in Yellowknife, Stephen Kakfwi, economic development minister (left), asked the association what it wants from government.

"I think we gave him the ammunition he needs to go to cabinet with," Furlong said. "It's going to create awareness there's an industry there.

"It's up to us to build a plan and have that recognized by all the partners involved."

The territorial government will spend about $1.77 million on tourism in 1996-97. The money is to be divided 60-40 between the West and East, leaving $1.06 million for the West.

Last Monday, Kakfwi said there likely would be less money in the future but he would "guarantee" the commitment to tourism would still be there.

"We'll work with you over the next few months to get a package we both can live with," he said.

Deneron said she was encouraged by those words. "He seems to be willing to work with the organization and that's a big plus," she said.

With division of the territories two years away, the Western Arctic group must also work on a marketing campaign to help people identify with the West.

In the past, polar bears and inukshuks, both symbols from the East, were used to identify the NWT.

The December meeting was the first time the membership of the organization met since establishing in November 1995. At that time the territorial government decided it would fund only one Western and one Eastern Arctic tourism association.

The association will hold its annual general meeting in Yellowknife next May.