Iqaluit (Aug 04/03) - In a matter of hours last Monday the community of Kimmirut pulled in $13,000 from Adventure Canada tourists on the Akademik Ioffe cruise ship.

The town has been perfecting its tourist attractions for years, said Kyra Fisher at the hamlet office, and it makes all the difference.

"They loved the community," Fisher said of the most recent visitors.

"This was their first opportunity to buy carvings. That was great for us."

Ten local tour guides, decked out in matching white parka covers, met the visitors at the beach and took them around the community in small groups.

Not only did they have local carvings, the hamlet also brought in goods from other communities to sell.

There were masks from Rankin Inlet, canned char, muskox jerky and gift cards made by photographer Joan Fraser.

Kimmirut began gearing up for tourists in the 1980s when the cruise liners started coming.

Passengers pay a shore fee for the hamlet to carry out the activities and hire the guides.

"What made ours unique was that we sailed a half-size whale boat in the bay and gave people tours," Fisher said.

And it wasn't just any whale boat, but one made in Nova Scotia complete with twelve long oars.

"No other community has that," she said proudly.

Pond Inlet, Panniqtuuq and Cape Dorset have also become popular cruise ship stops, and they have learned that it pays to be ready, especially with displays of local art and local people on hand to talk about Inuit culture.

"One hundred and twenty two people landing in Cape Dorset is pretty awesome," said Kristina Alariaq of Huit Huit Tours in Cape Dorset.

Alariaq charges the cruise lines for her services.

That fee helps her pay her guides, about 10-15 of them, and provide all the activities waiting for the passengers when they arrive.

"For three hours they want to learn something, buy some art and they want to learn Inuit culture."

Cape Dorset welcomed its first batch of about 60 passengers from the LeLevant cruise ship on July 17.

"They came up from St. John's (Newfoundland and Labrador) and they stopped in Cape Dorset, which is really a highlight for them because of the Inuit art that is produced here."

Alariaq strongly believes when tour ships come to Nunavut the operators should use local guides in the community.

"Otherwise their experience isn't meaningful and it doesn't involve the local people."