Yellowknife (June 04/03) - The territorial government wants the city and local businesses to unroll the welcome mat for visiting tourists by helping them build an RV lot.

Phil Lee, regional superintendent for North Slave territorial parks, said -- with fewer than 50 unpaved kilometres of Highway 3 left -- the number of campers with recreational vehicles visiting the city will continue the grow.

The problem is the number of suitable camping sites are not.

"Fred Henne (Park) has operated at or near capacity during the summer and it's creating problems for the tourist traffic," said Lee.

"Because if they don't get there early they don't get a site so they end up in parking lots and overflows and whatnot."

The Department of Resources, Wildlife, and Economic Development will release a study mid-month, which Lee anticipates will propose a joint partnership between the government, city and local businesses to develop an additional camping site in or near the city specifically for RV campers.

Lee said there's simply no room for expanding the current number of RV lots at existing nearby parks: Fred Henne, Prelude Lake, and Reid Lake.

"If we partner with private sector putting something together, partner with the city, there's a number of options that are out there," said Lee.

Rob Marois, a Yellowknife resident who was camping with his girlfriend at Fred Henne Park last week, said it would make sense to him if another RV park was built.

"I heard people talking this morning that the 14 day (limit on camping) is too restrictive," said Marois.

"They say there are only three sites to camp around Yellowknife, so you only get six weeks."

Mayor Gord Van Tighem agreed that Yellowknife needs more facilities for RV campers but wants to hear RWED's proposal before considering another site within city limits.

"Once the road gets paved we best get ready for them," said Van Tighem.

"We know Fred Henne isn't big enough ... They can't all stay at Wal-Mart.

"Close to town is good (but) they'd have to show me where."