NUNAVUT - Nunavut Arctic College will receive $44,000 in federal funding to develop a tourism and hospitality program, the college announced recently.

"It's filling an important gap that currently exists. Right now, there is no training," said Cindy Cowan, director of academic studies and community programs at the college's Nunatta campus in Iqaluit. "It will be unique because it's geared to Nunavut. Nunavut itself is unique. What people are looking for is a cultural experience, they want to be educated about Nunavut - its special flora and fauna, the history, the culture."

The territory's strengths in arts, culture and environment will act as the program's foundation.

Other Canadian programs have a strong emphasis on hospitality, she said, as opposed to the proposed program which will focus more on cultural experiences for visitors.

"The program's emphasis will be at the grassroots, the community level. We want the people to interpret their culture, history and highlights for visitors," she said.

The money comes from the Targeted Investment Program administered by CanNor, the federal government's economic development agency for the North.

The first phase will include consulting several Nunavut communities, establishing an advisory committee and researching programs emphasizing cultural and eco-tourism offered by Arctic College's University of the Arctic partners in Finland and Norway. In phase two, the college will test-pilot the program in three community learning centres.