Yellowknife (Oct 31/03) - The current political climate in North America, added to people's fears about travel, and contributed to the steady decline in the number of tourists dropping by Yellowknife's visitors centre.

Denie Olmstead, Northern Frontier Visitor's Centre, executive director. - Lisa Scott/NNSL photo

Chris Johnston, vice-president of the Northern Frontier Visitors Centre board , says the downturn started in 2001 and has been decreasing ever since.

The number of visitors is down by 2,251 people compared to this time last year.

The centre had 14,850 visitors from January to September 2002, compared to 12,599 for the same time period in 2003.

Numbers have been decreasing since a peak of 18,165 visitors for in 2000. Since then, fewer and fewer tourists have been stopping in at the centre.

Johnston blames the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), Mad Cow Disease and the war on Iraq for keeping people away.

He says it's a nation-wide problem and Yellowknife hasn't escaped the effects.

Summer visitors to the centre are mostly American and Albertan families, who drive or fly up to see the North, says Johnston.

Japanese tourists flood the North during the winter season to view the Aurora Borealis and participate in dog sled tours, says Johnston.

This year he hopes visitors from Japan will rebound. The Government of the Northwest Territories has earmarked $250,000 for marketing Aurora tours in the city.

Brian Desjardins, Communications Manager for NWT Arctic Tourism, is excited about the GNWT's commitment.

The marketing plan is dubbed the Japanese Recovery Plan.

The campaign will include print advertising, a sales mission to Japan, and media tours for Japanese tourism operators, says Desjardins.

"The Japanese Recovery Plan is in the works. The GNWT setting aside $250,000 is proof enough for that," Desjardins says.

"If we continue marketing, we hope to bring the numbers up to the same, if not more," he says.

He says marketing for summer tourism is continuing. NWT Arctic Tourism is targeting British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario with advertising.

Decline obvious

Denie Olmstead, the executive director of the Northern Frontier Visitors Centre, has seen the difference in numbers since he started work there in the spring of 2002.

"Only time will tell when the numbers come back," he says.

The not-for-profit centre depends on NWT Arctic Tourism for their marketing strategies.

"We wait to see the results (of the marketing) and take care of the people who come," Olmstead said.