SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
The Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce and 94 Yellowknifers have recently gotten a taste of China - literally.

A typical tourist market in Shanghai. 94 Yellowknifers travelled to China on the Chamber of Commerce sponsored trip from April 1 to 11. - Bruce Valpy/NNSL photo

"Our group of travelers bought out a Chinese bakery," said chamber executive director Deneen Everett, whose organization hosted its first international tour from April 1 to 11.

Participants visited Beijing, Suzhou, Hangzhou and Shanghai. They ranged from bankers and architects to engineers, retailers and media, as well as government employees and Yellowknife residents who just wanted the experience.

"It was absolutely incredible," said Everett. "It was not a trade mission. Instead it was an opportunity for Yellowknife businesses to learn about Chinese culture and to hopefully take back some knowledge that will help them serve a Chinese clientele a little better."

Participants paid between $2,200 and $2,500 for the all-inclusive trip.

According to the chamber, it generated $211,071 in revenue for a cost $185,551, leaving $25,135 in net profit.

Since the trip was so popular, the board has decided to make it an annual program. The 2018 destination has been selected, and was expected to be announced this week.

That's good news for people who are eager to get on a plane again.

"I think it's marvelous," said Margaret Peterson, co-owner of Peterson's Point Lake Lodge, who participated in the China trip. "I'm looking forward to finding out where their next trip is going to be."

Jeannie Rocher, owner of Quality Furniture, also says she's looking forward to the next trip, saying the travel helps keep people's minds open.

"We truly enjoyed ourselves," she said. "I love the markets and the Great Wall and just the mingling with all of our other people here from Yellowknife. It was the whole package."

That mingling with other Yellowknifers was an unintended side effect of the tour. Everett said much of the feedback she received includes positive comments about how travelling with other Yellowknife business owners provided an opportunity to network.

"Sometimes we had a three-hour bus ride so people were able to chat to one another about the businesses they own and the services they provide and it helps get their name out," she said.

Peterson agrees.

"Sometimes you think you know a lot of people in Yellowknife, and you go on these buses, and you hardly know anybody," she said. "Yellowknife has changed so much and it was great to be able to connect with other people from Yellowknife that I hadn't met before."

The main focus of the trip was to help give Yellowknife businesses a deeper understanding of Chinese culture. China has many business ties to the territory, including an increasing tourism presence.

The Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment found the number of tourists arriving to view the Northern lights rose 48 per cent from 2014-15 to 2015-16, with total visitors to the NWT rising 11 per cent. Many came from Asia, specifically from Korea, Japan and China.

Peterson says she sees many guests from China visit her lodge, and after visiting the country, she can understand the appeal of the NWT.

"They really don't get to see the Northern lights there or the stars very often with all the smog," she said.

Rocher called the entire trip "enlightening."

"We have a lot of people coming over from China and Japan, so I think it opened our eyes," she said. "We can relate to them a little bit better."

Or at least their baked goods.

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