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NWT on pace to break last year's tourism spending record

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NNSL file photo NWT Tourism CEO Cathie Bolstad said an increased number of tourists in the territory is putting a five-year visitor spending projection ahead of schedule.

The territory is on pace to set a new tourism spending record in 2017-2018.

According to NWT Tourism statistics from 2016-2017 some 108,480 visitors travelled to the NWT. During their stay the visitors spent $201.4 million, collectively.

NWT Tourism CEO Cathie Bolstad said an increased number of tourists in the territory is putting a five-year visitor spending projection ahead of schedule. NNSL file photo

NWT Tourism CEO, Cathie Bolstad said these numbers put NWT tourism's five-year strategy to grow visitor spending to $235 million by 2020/21 ahead of schedule.

They are anticipating over $200 million more in spending from 2017-2018.

This projection is being made because tourism in the North is getting international recognition.

Travellers are being provided an “authentic experience” which has them boasting to their friends and families, she said.

Bolstad added tourists are now starting to go beyond Yellowknife for vacations.

“Yellowknife has been a great stepping stone, but it's beyond that now,” she said. “ For example, Asian tourists are now starting to drive up to the Arctic Ocean ... now that the (Tuktoyaktuk) highway is built our people in Inuvik are seeing increased traffic.”

Touch the Arctic Tours owner Susan Mercredi said people are looking for packages to different communities in the NWT.

“Inuvik and the Deh Cho are other popular spots to travel,” said Mercredi. “The sunrise festival and the Nahanni experiences are something else ... there is so much beyond and we need to stress that.”

Mercredi said tourists are expressinginterest in areas as far as Cambridge Bay in Nunavut.

“People are really attracted to isolated communities,” she said. “I think there is a lot of growth to come.”

Last month, executives from Ensemble Travel Group converged on Yellowknife for the annual Ensemble executive retreat. The retreat was designed to showcase the increased interest in Northern tourism to travel elitists.

Ensemble president Lindsay Pearlman said the people who participated in the retreat are impressed.

“These are hardened travel professionals and they've been like a kid in the candy store,” said Pearlman. “You're biggest critics in the world are here. They've seen everything, they've done everything ... I've never seen anyone more eager to get on a bus at 2 a.m. it's an amazing thing to see.”

Ensemble's Australian senior vice president and general manager Trish Shepherd said when she was presented with the opportunity to come to the NWT, she could not pass it up.

“Yellowknife has always been on my bucket list. I remember feeling very excited when I heard the conference was going to be here. ”said Shepherd. “The beautiful photo of the aurora village on Top Of The World Travel's website really captivated me.”
Shepherd said she was most excited to see the aurora, but after spending time in Yellowknife she's had one favourite experience after another.
“I've really enjoyed the authentic experience,” said Shepherd.“We got off the plane and went straight to Bullocks for the most gorgeous fish meal I've ever eaten.”

Shepherd added she sees herself marketing Yellowknife to the Australian people because it's so efficient to get here.
“I think the Australians who want to see Canada should just do one more flight. It's nice and easy,” she said. “If we go to Europe we're not guaranteed the best place to see the lights so coming to NWT you are guaranteed a great spot and a great experience.”

The Northern lights is a popular attraction in Yellowknife. However, Pearlman said there are many attractions that make the NWT unique.

Pearlman added events like the sunrise festival, jamboree and ice-fishing are very marketable attractions for tourists.

“Tourists are looking for things to do that are engaging and unique,” said Pearlman. “It amazes me that the colder it gets here the more time (people) in the territories spend outside.”