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Thorunn Howatt
Northern News Services
Last week Air Canada abolished all travel agent commissions. That means travel agents will have to make money by slapping a user fee on the price of tickets. Air Canada's new policy takes effect April 22.
This adds just one more roadblock to travel agents who are trying to lure tourists north.
Foreign tourist traffic has slowed to a crawl and Canadian air companies have been facing financial tough times since the Sept. 11 American tragedy.
Yellowknife's Key West Travel Agency has been successfully building new markets amidst the tourism crisis. It is promoting sport hunting trips in the United States and providing ticketing for Northern tour operators and lodge owners.
"We have some corporate deals," said agency owner Don Yamkowy. "The outfitters are saying it is going to be a record year."
Canada is still thought of as a safe destination and, according to the Canadian Tourism Commission, it's time to attract North Americans to stay on the continent.
So the commission is focusing on an in-country campaign enticing Canadians to see their own country.
"We are finding there is interest in Canada from a domestic market and a U.S. market. People are wanting to stay on the continent," said the Canadian Tourism Commission's president Jim Watson.
Last week the commission's executive met in Yellowknife for one of its regular board meetings. The board was privatized about a year ago.
The Canadian tourism industry suffered after Sept. 11 when international travellers chose to stay home.
Fewer Asian and European visitors were coming to Canada but North Americans weren't leaving the continent either.
On the other hand, in December 2001 U.S. overnight tourist entries were up 3.8 per cent compared to the same time period in 2000.
Auto travel increased by 12.7 per cent. Canadian outbound overseas travel was down nearly 10 per cent in December 2001 compared to last year.
The tourism commission's board members were treated to aurora adventures with Raven Tours and Aurora Village.
Tour operators were saying the impact of Sept. 11 on Yellowknife's Japanese-directed aurora vacations was dramatic but is making a comeback.
