Yellowknife (July 24/06) - The higher Canadian dollar and the threat of global terrorism doesn't seem to be hurting tourism around the city.

"We love Canada," said Donna Caplinger from Moweaqua, Ill.

She and her husband were at the Northern Frontier Visitors Centre last week, hoping to get the scoop on activities offered in Yellowknife.

Total 2006 walk-in guests by month at the Northern Frontier Visitors Centre: January928 February966 March1,197 April 500 May 590 June1,415 Total 5,596 June breakdown of visitors Northern Frontier Visitors Centre: City residents337 NWT/Nunavut35 Canada794 U.S.161 Asia5 Europe35 Germany35 Australia13

"We're camping, taking pictures, and kayaking," said Ben.

Tourism is a booming business in Yellowknife say those in the industry.

Bugs aside, it seems few windy days and warm weather are a winning combination for visitors said Arctic Escapes Travel owner Scott Robertson.

"It's certainly up from last year and there seems to have been more conferences and meetings in mid to late June," said Robertson.

His company arranges tours and excursions whether it be hiking, bird watching or boat trips on Yellowknife Bay.

Robertson said even though the weather this year has been a bit up and down, it's still warm enough for pleasant trips out on Great Slave Lake.

"Last year there was a lot of wind," said Robertson. "Even days that have been cloudy haven't been cold or rainy."

At the Northern Frontier Visitors Centre, residents and tourists walking through the doors have thus far numbered 5,596 in 2006.

Though this isn't the biggest June on record - that would be 2,963 in June 2000 - it was still a good month for the centre drawing 1,415 guests.

Many of those people, 794 to be exact, came from other parts of Canada, while the second highest number of people visiting the centre are coming from Yellowknife itself.

"Everyone seems really happy to be in the North," said centre employee Kassandra Spoelder.

She said most people were first-time visitors to the city.

Weather hasn't been a concern for visitors so far, according to the centre. They still hear the usual complaints about the bugs, but even those have been few and far between.