Deline could soon see something of an employment boom thanks to a deal with Chinese tourism operator Beijing Best Tour Company.
The agreement could attract upwards of 600 visitors annually to the fly-in community on Great Bear Lake, increasing the demand for tourism sector workers.
Techi?q Ltd., the Deline Got'ine government's business arm, signed the cooperation agreement during a trip to China earlier this month.
The deal will see the two companies collaborate on an up-market tourism package that combines outdoor activities with cultural immersion.
Beijing Best Tour Company is offering to send up to 24 travellers to Deline for each Sunday-through-Thursday cycle between November 1 and April 30.
“It means most of the village will be working,” Bob Gill, CEO of Techi?q, said Friday.
Gill estimates that a single group of visitors could generate revenue in the ballpark of $25,000.
Grey Goose Lodge – touted as the Sahtu region's flagship hotel – will likely hire 10 to 12 new workers, he said.
Gill said Techi?q set its sights on the Chinese market because data out of Yellowknife suggests the Chinese are “big visitors and spend very good money.”
These visitors are seeking off-the-beaten-path travel destinations, he said, “and Great Bear Lake certainly would qualify in that category.” They are also interested in real cultural experiences.
Timing is opportune. The agreement comes as Techi?q wraps up $2-million renovation to Grey Goose Lodge, funded in part by the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency.
Changes include improved interiors and the installation of eight new cabins around the main building.
Gill said the expansion will elevate the lodge to an “international standard” that appeals to experienced big-game hunters and trophy fishers.
Gill is expecting around 70 visitors this summer.
Tourism provides valuable economic opportunities to the community, said Deline Got'ine government leader Raymond Tutcho.
“We want people to see what we have, what we can offer, so they can relay that message back to their own countries,” he said.
The deal with Beijing Best Tour Company is “great news for Deline and the Sahtu region,” Sahtu MLA Daniel McNeely, who was part of the delegation that traveled to China this month, stated on March 29.
“It's just the first step in a series of potential agreements that will lead to further economic development that truly benefits the people of the region.”