Andrea Markey
Northern News Services

Grise Fiord (Aug 08/05) - With cruiseship season in Nunavut just beginning, communities are preparing programs to share with tourists.

There's a Russian vessel sailing to Grise Fiord again this year.

The Kapitain Khlebnikov, of Quark Expeditions, will bring up to 112 passengers to shore for about three hours later this month, said Jimmy Qappik, economic development officer for the hamlet.

The High Arctic community also expects the return of an Adventure Canada vessel on Sept. 1. Arts and crafts sales, work for community guides, and the $20-per-person landing fee all add up to a significant amount of money for the community in a short time, he said.

In 2003, a cruise ship to Kimmirut left behind $13,000 in one afternoon after passengers purchased carvings and other art.

During the same year in Pangnirtung, passengers of three ships spent between $20,000 and $40,000 at the Uqqurmiut Centre for Arts and Crafts.

As much of a blessing as the ships are, one nagging problem continues year after year: the communities are often unsure if and when the visitors will actually land.

"We have no control over cruise ships," said Maureen Bundgaard, chief executive officer of Nunavut Tourism.

"It is hard for companies sometimes if the community economic development officer is different each year," she said.

"Information can get lost in the shuffle."

A community handbook with suggestions on how to prepare for cruise ships has been developed by Nunavut Tourism based on feedback from communities that have previously hosted ships and on Bundgaard's experience, gained while she worked in Pond Inlet.

Workshops are also offered by Nunavut Tourism to individuals and small groups, including visitor centre managers.

"It is important for people to realize this is a business and they need to be proactive and go out and make it pay," she said.

As a non-governmental group, Nunavut Tourism does what it can to keep track of cruise ships within its budget, but with no central government office to tally the numbers, the total number of ships docking in the territory isn't exactly known, she said.

Cruise North Expeditions, a subsidiary of Makivik Corporation, has six cruises on two different routes departing for Nunavut this summer.

Each ship averages between 40 and 50 passengers. The ships dock for four to five hours while the passengers tour the town, meeting print makers and carvers.

"We try to involve as many people in the community as possible," said Kristiina Alariaq, Huit Huit Tours and Accommodations co-owner.

"People who sell their work like to meet the people who buy and often the people who buy want to make sure they meet the artist who made it."

In the past, sales from cruise ship passengers have been very good.

"These ships specifically mention the Cape Dorset stop so many people on the ship are interested in Inuit art and are interested in buying some," she said.

"It is sometimes difficult to do everything we want in such a short time, but we try."