Kerry McCluskey
Northern News Services

IQALUIT (Aug 17/98) - Business opportunities have come sailing into more than a few Baffin Island harbours this summer.

According to Robert Jaffrey, the economic development officer in Kimmirut, several cruise ships are travelling in the vicinity of Baffin Island and are creating potentially viable business opportunities.

Jaffrey says that in Kimmirut alone, he will have seen five ships by summer's end, each carrying an average of 80 passengers.

Gaining momentum since 1994, Jaffrey says they are now very organized in Kimmirut and professional in what they have to offer.

"Over the years we've put together a landing package, charge a per head fee and offer a guide or a host to take them around the community," says Jaffrey, who notes that each visit employs 18 people for at least four to six hours for a minimum of $65 in wages.

Once they pay the $22.50 head fee, the tourists are taken to a hospitality tent, fed tea and bannock and given the chance to talk with elders. A local artist is hired to demonstrate carving or printmaking and the tourists are offered a short lesson in Inuktitut.

After observing traditional games, Jaffrey says the groups go shopping and inject thousands of dollars into the local economy.

"With the last ship that came in, we estimate they spent between $7,000 and $10,000 on carvings."

While the visits generate excitement in Kimmirut, Jaffrey notes that they require a vast amount of planning and foresight.

"We put out a newsletter this year when we knew the cruise ships were coming so people could get ready for them," Jaffrey says, explaining that compared to last year, the carvers were more prepared, had a better variety and could charge lower prices.

Jaffrey says the overall goal of developing cruise ship tourism is to get as much money into the community and into the hands of the people while encouraging the industry and exposing the community to it.

He adds that about 20 per cent of the profits are held in the community coffers and used to develop future ventures.

As a permanent employee, Jaffrey's role is to provide continuity in the business from year to year and to collect enough information to determine if the cruise ships are providing a viable business in Kimmirut.

"We have to let the community assess whether the value is worth their time. Is there an economic benefit or an economic cost?"

Maureen Bundgaard of Pond Inlet says she saw no option but to provide something for the tourists to do when they came off the ship.

"They were walking around, not looking too happy," says Bundgaard, who works as the economic development officer in Pond Inlet.

With the newly built Nattinnak Centre to offer, Bundgaard put together a package and now charges tourists $12 a head for the four hour offshore visits.

Offering shopping, refreshments and historical tours, Bundgaard has also put together an extensive entertainment package but says the program is always changing.

"We're making little adjustments. It's a learning process, that's what marketing is all about," says Bundgaard who adds that she tracks every dollar spent so she can better meet the demand next season.

"We're gearing up and understanding what they want."