Wilderness Tourism Association of the Yukon

Wilderness Tourism Association of the Yukon E-News for Wednesday, November 30, 2016

#1 EQ PROVIDES MARKET DATA #2 CANADIAN SIGNATURE EXPERIENCES #3 YUKON LIBERAL PARTY PROMISES FOR THE TOURISM INDUSTRY #4 YUKON LIBERAL PARTY RESPONSES TO THE WILDERNESS TOURISM INDUSTRY #5 POTENTIAL FOR WILDERNESS TOURISM OPPORTUNITIES IN THE IVVAVIK PARK AREA #1 EQ PROVIDES MARKET DATA

Developed by Destination Canada, EQ, offers you a framework with which to consider the types of travellers that are attracted to your tourism business. EQ can help your target marketing and gain a better understanding of the experiences your visitors are seeking. EQ is changing the way travel experiences are developed, marketed and sold in Canada.

Follow this link for an overview of EQ at the Yukon Culture and Tourism web site and how it relates to our tourism sector. https://tc.beta.gov.yk.ca/en/tourism/tourism-and-visitor-research/explorer-quotient-eq

Or follow this link to the Destination Canada web site for further details. http://en.destinationcanada.com/resources-industry/explorer-quotient #2 CANADIAN SIGNATURE EXPERIENCES Canadian River Expeditions, Nahanni River Adventures, Northern Tales Travel Services, Ruby Range Adventure, Arctic Range Adventure, and Muktuk Adventures all carry the “Canadian Signature Experience” designation or “CSE” from Destination Canada.

The CSE collection helps eligible tourism businesses promote their product internationally. It also makes it easier for the travel trade to sell more of Canada, and to make more money doing so. Media can utilize the collection to find a rich array of story ideas, media collateral and other resources.

Find out more by visiting the following link. http://en.destinationcanada.com/resources-industry/canadian_signature_experiences

#3 LIBERAL PARTY PROMISES FOR THE TOURISM INDUSTRY

On Monday, November 7th, 2016, Yukoners went to the polls and elected a Liberal majority government.

The Yukon Liberal Party's platform stipulates that a Yukon Liberal government will: enhance the tourism industry by:

1. Paving the Dawson City airport runway and making the necessary maintenance and infrastructure upgrades for all rural airports to enhance economic opportunities and community security; 2. Examining options to develop a more competitive winter tourism industry; 3. Considering investments in government infrastructure from which the tourism industry can build businesses; 4. Formulating an arts and culture policy in the Yukon that recognizes various arts and culture sectors (First Nations, French, Filipino, etc.) as key pillars to developing the Yukon community; 5. Marketing and supporting the promotion of Yukon artists, arts, and culture; 6. Doubling the government’s direct consumer marketing efforts for a total investment of $1.2 million, and making the temporary two-year tourism marketing funds permanent and increasing the annual core marketing fund from $5M to $7M; TIA Yukon congratulates Premier-elect Sandy Silver and his team and looks forward to working with the new government to continue to enhance the Yukon's tourism industry in the years to come.

#4 YUKON LIBERAL PARTY RESPONSES TO THE WILDERNESS TOURISM INDUSTRY

During the Yukon’s election, WTAY asked several important questions of the Yukon Liberal Party. We thought it important to once again share those responses with you, our members.

Yukon Liberal Party 183-108 Elliott Street Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 6C4 [email protected]

Thank-you for the opportunity to answer the WTAY questions for each of the parties in the upcoming election.

Wilderness Tourism Association of Yukon Questions

1. The Peel Water Shed is a specific area of interest to WTAY. If your party was to establish itself at Yukon’s government, what would your actions be towards its protection regardless of any ruling from the Supreme Court of Canada? A Liberal Government will accept and implement the original final report of the Peel Watershed Planning Commission. We must respect the land use process of our Self-Government and Final Agreements. Consequently, if elected, we will terminate the current appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada. Certainty is created when we invest in our process, rather than seek arbitration in the courts.

2. WTAY remains committed to environmental and ecologically sustainable practices that minimize the ecological footprint. Where does your party stand on questions of the environment and ecological protection? What role do you see WTAY playing in the development of these plans and policies? A Yukon Liberal Government vision is for an economic plan that integrates long-term environmental management in all of our decisions. We believe that environmental stewardship should be woven into our economic programs; therefore we are supportive of WTAY’s commitment to environmental and ecologically sustainable practices that minimize our ecological footprint. Part of our platform is also about supporting existing economic sectors and enhancing their outreach and market access. This includes tourism and wilderness tourism. WTAY could play a role in the implementation of our platform vision by working with the Yukon Government to share best practices, engage stakeholders and clients, and serve as a conduit to members of the Association on how the Government can support sustainable practices. Yukon Liberal Party 183- 108 Elliott Street Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 6C4 [email protected]

3. What if any plans do you have for any changes to the current land use planning processes and what role do you see for WTAY and its members? We plan to restart the land use planning process and ensure that the process moves forward in a logical and planned manner. We support the land use planning process. It is a key element of ensuring that we have an open and transparent process for making these important decisions. Moving forward, we believe that WTAY can play an active role in the land use process by participating on behalf of its membership and in working with Government to ensure that your views and policy positions are clearly understood.

4. What, if any plans do you have for parks, campgrounds, and land development in key wilderness areas of Yukon? The Yukon Liberals would consider investments in government infrastructure from which the tourism industry can build business. This includes expanding existing campground infrastructure. In terms of land development, we will work partners and stakeholders on any future considerations in key wilderness areas, by respecting the land use process and the provisions of our Self-Government and Final Agreements.

5. First Nations culture and tourism has an opportunity to play a growing role within the wilderness tourism industry. How would you support and develop programs to assist the growth of First Nations participation within the wilderness tourism sector? The Liberal plan for economic diversification includes supporting and expanding the existing industries of our economy, in balance with environmental stewardship. For tourism, this means paving the Dawson City runway and making the necessary maintenance upgrades for all rural airports to enhance economic opportunities. We also wish to develop a more competitive winter tourism industry and consider investments in government infrastructure from which the tourism industry can build businesses. Additionally, there is more we can do to support cultural tourism and tourism marketing. A Liberal Government will formulate an arts and culture policy in the Yukon that recognizes various arts and culture sectors (First Nations, French, Filipino, etc.) as key pillars to developing the Yukon community. We will also double direct consumer marketing efforts, make our temporary tourism marketing funds permanent – and increase them, and promote artists, arts, and culture. These government efforts will support and develop programs to assist growth in the wilderness tourism sector, as well as First Nations-specific cultural tourism opportunities. Yukon Liberal Party 183-108 Elliott Street Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 6C4 [email protected] 6. The Wilderness Tourism Industry is a significant contributor to the Yukon economy. What, if any, financial and program development support do you see various departments offering the organization and its members? We are not yet in a position to make specific contributions to the wilderness tourism industry, since we do not yet know the state of the territorial economy. It would be imprudent at this time to make promises we might not be able to keep and we trust that Yukoners will respect our position. If elected, we are interested in collaborating with WTAY and its members to determine whether financial and program development support could be improved or modified, working with departments such Economic Development and Tourism to address or target investments.

7. WTAY is the voice for the industry and its members. What is your position on regular communications both with senior bureaucrats and elected officials to ensure ongoing and positive consultation and communication between the organization and government departments and portfolios such as Education, Environment, Economic Development, EMR, Highways & Public Works, and Tourism and Culture? What is your plan to implement and execute? It is important to share an open line of communication between government and Yukoners; our vision is for a Yukon Government that is open, responsive, and accountable to voters and businesses. Positive consultation is critical to the enhancement of the Yukon tourism industry and ensuring that our policies, programs, and investments are targeted and effective. If elected, we will work industry and senior management to establish appropriate protocol for the facilitation of information and communication between stakeholders, government departments, and ministers. We will encourage an open dialogue where possible.

8. Beyond communication and relationships, funding is required to maintain and support our members and marketing efforts. WTAY currently benefits from funding to support marketing through the Yukon Wild program but it is subject to review each year and changes based on the departments mandates and direction. What is your position on core funding for WTAY to support Marketing? The Yukon Liberals appreciate and respect the role that WTAY plays in supporting its membership and marketing the Wilderness Tourism industry. We are in favour of expanding existing Yukon Government marketing efforts as part of our support for the tourism industry, and are looking forward to the opportunity to discuss the core funding WTAY receives for marketing. 9. Beyond marketing WTAY strives to deliver educational opportunities and set standards for our members from risk management to professional guide training, first aid, insurance, environmental stewardship, and more. What is your commitment to funding programs that Yukon Liberal Party 183-108 Elliott Street Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 6C4 [email protected] can support this ongoing and crucial education for the industry and its members, to better grow the Yukon economy and deliver world class product and experiences? What would your planned approach be? At this point, we are not prepared to make specific funding commitments, since we do not know the state of the territorial economy. It would be imprudent to make promises that we might not be able to keep. That said, once in government, the Yukon Liberals are open to exploring funding arrangements for wilderness tourism, including their educational outreach and professional training. We view tourism as an important sector of this economy and look forward to working with WTAY in the future.

10. In the long term, what is your plan for protecting and maintaining a Yukon that allows for world class wilderness tourism, recognizing that there is a need for infrastructure that supports travel while being environmentally and ecologically responsible? The Yukon Liberal Party knows that one cannot responsibly separate the environment from the economy. We need to develop our resources and businesses in a sustainable manner that ensures wealth and prosperity for future generations. Our plan to help develop a world-class Yukon tourism sector is to target and enhance investment in Outside marketing, making permanent existing funds. We will also examine options for a more competitive winter tourism industry and consider options for augmenting government infrastructure from which the tourism industry can build businesses. This can include airport infrastructure, recreational campgrounds, and trail networks, among others.

We also wish to engage stakeholders and industry associations proactively in a shared vision for Yukon tourism – including wilderness tourism. All our investments, such as infrastructure, professional development, and marketing, will be done in consideration of a responsible stewardship of the Yukon environment and the development of a thriving, diverse Yukon economy. Yours truly,

Sandy Silver Leader Yukon Liberal Party #5 POTENTIAL FOR WILDERNESS TOURISM OPPORTUNITIES IN THE IVVAVIK PARK AREA

Ivvavik National Park is open for wilderness tourism business and I’ve requested some specific details for our members.

How many openings are there in a year? There are 18 places for combined Herschel Island and Imniarvik base camp trips. Currently 9 places in these trips remain available for 2017. We have 4 trips with the Imniarvik experience alone at 8 places each available (32 spots). We typically get people to book a different date rather than have a trip double up since the expenses on each flight are shared with the ingoing/outgoing trips.

Do you operate in winter as well as summer and what‘s different if you do? No guided trips currently occur in the winter, however the parks are open to winter touring, which happens occasionally.

How full is your schedule for 2017? 10 places are currently booked although a number of inquiries have come in.

How do you price for tour operators? We have provided an incentive to 3rd parties who advertise and sell bookings on our behalf (10% discount to the full rate). Note that these trips are for cost-share access to the parks as Parks Canada does not profit from these trips.

What are the big selling points of Ivvavik? Inuvialuit cultural host, hassle free, catered meals, true wilderness experience to safe and comfortable base camp, accessible arctic destination, mix of boreal and arctic wildlife: grizzly bear, dall's sheep, muskox, wolves, caribou, golden eagles, unique flora, and the ancient Firth River winding through a Beringian landscape. Exclusivity and remoteness: More people stand on the top of Everest than visit this park in a year. There is also placer gold mining heritage.

What are the realities and limitations of promoting Ivvavik if I was a tour operator? Generally awareness of Ivvavik and the experiences it offers are limited, operating realities (weather, limited aviation services), expense of access limits products to very niche markets (even getting to Inuvik is expensive: see Air North/Canadian North/ First Air).

For more details on the Ivvavik Park area or to book a trip, please contact...

Parks Canada – Western Arctic Field Unit 867-777-8800 www.pc.gc.ca/ivvavik

See more tourism news at http://www.tiayukon.com/ If you have information of interest to WTAY Members for the E-News, please send to [email protected] Wilderness Tourism Association of the Yukon #4 - 1114 Front St., Whitehorse, YT Y1A 1A3 Tel. 867.668.3369 Fax 867.668.3370 E-mail: [email protected] www.wtay.com and www.yukonwild.com