Growing tourism in the Beaufort Delta
Tsiigehtchic to start encouraging tourists to stop in the community
Miranda Scotland
Northern News Services
Monday, July 6, 2015
TSIIGEHTCHIC/ARCTIC RED RIVER
Tsiigehtchic recently celebrated the opening of a new tourist centre and the society behind the project is hoping it will lead to a boon in visitors.
A grand opening of the Tsiigehtchic Tourist Centre was held June 26. - photo courtesy of the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment |
The small community of less than 200 residents doesn't currently attract a whole lot of tourists, said Bob Mumford, chair of the Tsiigehtchic Tourism Society.
"I'd say less than 10 per cent of the traffic going to Inuvik actually stops in Tsiigehtchic," he said.
"We haven't been encouraging them to stop because we want to make sure we have enough stuff in place that it's worth their while. I think we're getting to that point with the opening of the tourist centre and this (ice age) exhibit that's on and the fact they can get groceries and gas and they can camp overnight if they want."
The centre's grand opening was held June 26. It will close for the season in September.
The main structure is made from a more than 20-year-old re-purposed log building and has a second floor viewing room where visitors can sit and eat lunch.
Tourists can also get information about the area and look at local handicrafts, maps, historical photographs and the Ice Age discovery exhibit featuring a 13,650 year-old steppe bison skull replica.
The centre is connected to a smaller building with a kitchen and shower facilities, which will be open to tourists for a fee.
The Department of Industry Tourism and Investment has contributed $153,000 to the project since 2012.
With the Inuvik-Tuk highway expected to bring more tourists to the area, the society wants to make Tsiigehtchic a more tourist-friendly spot.
The next big task going forward is setting up signage along the Dempster Highway to let visitors know about the centre and amenities available in the community, said Mumford. The society also wants to look at setting up teepees and wall tents around the centre, which would be rented out. As well, the society is working to develop informational packages about various nearby historical sites, such as the
Tsiigehtchic church, built in 1921. But funds are tight for the volunteer society, said Mumford.
"It's tough going because we have to scrounge for everything. We have a lot of ideas, we have a lot of things we'd like to see developed but we realize it's just going to take time," he said, adding they did, however, get some money to hire a summer student.
"We're hoping people in the community will be inspired to start creating some services for tourists like boat trips, day trips, maybe going to fish camps overnight, that kind of thing. We're hoping eventually to get some winter tourism going."
