Extending tourism season being explored
Malcolm Gorrill
Northern News Services
Inuvik (Nov 10/00) - Extending the season is one option being tried to draw more tourists to the area.
The tourism season usually runs from May to September, explains Dennis Zimmermann, manager of Inuvialuit Tourism and Arctic Nature Tours.
"This year they're looking at investing in tourism long term," Zimmermann said, "so the Inuvialuit Development Corporation has hired me for two years, year round, to try and develop the industry. So where it stands now, this is the first year we've been year round.
"So it allows us to build on what's been done in the past, and sort of take it to the next level."
Zimmermann said his company is test marketing a few winter packages right now and that these packages are not ready yet for the general public.
He said Inuvik's primary market is 'rubber tire traffic' or recreational vehicle travellers. Zimmermann said these tourists tend to be "price sensitive," and that the challenge is to attract people who would be willing to go on longer tours.
Zimmermann said about 60 per cent of the tourists who visit this area are Canadian, and that Americans make up about 20 per cent. Germans make up 15 per cent.
Meanwhile, the tourism co-ordinator for the Town of Inuvik argues this area could tap a new market -- the Japanese.
Brian Desjardins recently attended a Superhost Japan conference in Yellowknife. He hopes he will be able to put on such a conference here for others.
"Inuvik and region has potential to market itself to the Japanese clientele, so basically I want to prepare first," Desjardins explained. "Yellowknife is the major location for Japanese to visit, but we can tap into that market."
