Glen Korstrom
Northern News Services

INUVIK (Jun 26/98) - Catching the wave of tourism promotion, Inuvik businesses have teamed up with governments and institutions like the Centennial Library to give one lucky tourist a large gift bag each week.

Tourist Centre workers choose the winner by selecting the first tourist to pass through the front door after a specific time, according to organizer Tracy Gunther.

Gwich'in Graphics then prints a certificate embossed with the winner's name and Mayor George Roach makes a presentation at the town hall.

"I'm so appreciative," this week's tourist of the week, Carmen Lucas, said after receiving her gift bag.

Ruffling through the bag, placing items temporarily on the trunk of Mayor Roach's car, she beamed as she described how her husband Gary would love the baseball cap and how much she could use a notepad donated by Mack's Travel.

More than a dozen businesses and groups have made donations to the weekly gift bag.

If Inuvik "pulls together (so) ... people come to this community without spending a lot of money, they will return. And if they don't return, they're going to tell someone, 'Hey Inuvik's a place where people are willing to give instead of take, take, take,'" said Inuvik Sports and Leisure Centre manager Davis Mitchell, whose business donated one free half-hour massage.

Gwich'in Graphics manager Rob Cook said his business does what it can to help the economy even though, "our return is zero from this thing."

Cook said he is helping mold a vibrant tourist economy to help all businesses with the donation of time, T-shirts and baseball caps.

"The regional chamber of commerce is trying to convince people in the Beaufort Delta small is where it's at. Don't wait for the mega-project any more. Be out there and be a business and do whatever you can," Cook said.

One critique the Lucases have of Inuvik business is tour operators need to work more closely together.

"I almost felt we were there to facilitate," said Gary Lucas.

When the couple were planning their trip to Herschel Island, they found out that their trip was dependent on how many other people were going on the same trip.

It was not until later that day when Arctic Tour Company and Arctic Nature Tours teamed when they found out they could see Herschel Island.