IVC New Document Template i September 2008 International Air Travel, Tourism and Freight Opportunity Study ii Acknowledgements This study was completed by InterVISTAS and Ile Royale Enterprises Limited under contract to the Investment and Economic Analysis Division of Industry, Tourism and Investment (ITI), Government of the Northwest Territories. Support and advice was provided by the Department of Transportation, Government of the Northwest Territories. Funding support was provided by the SINED program of Indian and Northern Affairs, Government of Canada, Yellowknife Office. The completion of this study would not have been possible without the constructive cooperation of all the tourism operators, industry associations, shippers, carriers, community and government representatives who gave substantial time to this project. Development of the NWT air market is critical to our long term development. This study provides an expert review of options for doing this. However, its primary purpose is to elicit northern comment and discussion. If you want to provide your viewpoint, please forward your comments directly to the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment, or the Department of Transportation, Government of the Northwest Territories. The primary email address is [email protected], or fax 867-873-0434. InterVISTAS and Ile Royal Enterprises Limited acknowledge the information and support provided by stakeholders described in Appendix 1. September 2008 International Air Travel, Tourism and Freight Opportunity Study iii Table of Contents 1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................................................................1 2.0 BACKGROUND INFORMATION............................................................................................................4 2.1 Tourism Industry Trends......................................................................................................................................4 2.1.1 Global Trends .............................................................................................................................................................. 4 2.1.2 Key Market Trends....................................................................................................................................................... 7 2.1.3 National Trends ......................................................................................................................................................... 15 2.1.4 NWT Trends............................................................................................................................................................... 17 2.2 Meeting Market Trends.......................................................................................................................................20 2.2.1 North America............................................................................................................................................................ 20 2.2.2 NWT Convention Centre Feasibility Study................................................................................................................. 22 2.3 Aviation Developments ......................................................................................................................................23 2.3.1 Market Forecasts and Trends.................................................................................................................................... 23 2.3.2 Aircraft Technology.................................................................................................................................................... 26 2.3.3 Aircraft Fleets............................................................................................................................................................. 30 2.3.4 Airline Trends............................................................................................................................................................. 32 2.3.5 State of the Airline Industry Today............................................................................................................................. 34 2.4 NWT Tourism Reports........................................................................................................................................39 2.4.1 2007 Visitor Markets Strategic Overview: Northwest Territories Source: Northwest Territories Industry, Tourism and Investment .............................................................................................................................................................................. 39 2.4.2 2007 Restoring Canada’s Growth/Yield with the Japanese Travel Market - Source: Canadian Tourism Commission41 2.4.3 2006 – 2007 Northwest Territories Aurora Visitor Survey Source: Northwest Territories Industry, Tourism and Investment .............................................................................................................................................................................. 43 2.4.4 2004 – 2005 Aurora Visitors Survey Results Source: Northwest Territories Industry, Tourism and Investment....... 43 2.4.5 2003 – 2004 Aurora Visitors Survey Results Source: Northwest Territories Industry, Tourism and Investment....... 44 2.4.6 2006 Northwest Territories Visitor Exit Survey: Summary Report Source: Northwest Territories Industry, Tourism and Investment ....................................................................................................................................................................... 44 2.4.7 2006 Northwest Territories Visitor Exit Survey: Outdoor Adventure Source: Northwest Territories Industry, Tourism and Investment ....................................................................................................................................................................... 44 2.4.8 2006 Northwest Territories Visitor Exit Survey: General Touring Source: Northwest Territories Industry, Tourism and Investment .............................................................................................................................................................................. 45 2.4.9 2005 Tourism 2010: A Tourism Plan for the Northwest Territories Source: Northwest Territories Industry, Tourism and Investment ....................................................................................................................................................................... 45 2.4.10 2005 Japanese Travel Consumer Study: An Analysis of Travel Trends and Canada’s Competitive Market Position Source: Canadian Tourism Commission ................................................................................................................................ 46 2.4.11 2004 NWT Tourism Inventory and Gap Analysis Source: Northwest Territories Tourism......................................... 48 2.4.12 2004 Industry Profile: An Integrated Approach to Nurturing Industry Development and NWT Wealth Source: Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development Government of the NWT ........................................................................... 48 2.4.13 2002 Aurora Tourism: Economic Impact on the NWT Source: Resources Wildlife and Economic Development Government of the Northwest Territories................................................................................................................................ 50 2.4.14 2002 Visitor Exit Survey: Report on the Outdoor Adventure Segment of Visitors to the Northwest Territories Source: Resources Wildlife and Economic Development Government of the Northwest Territories................................................... 50 2.4.15 2002 Visitor Exit Survey: Report on the General Touring Segment of Visitors to the Northwest Territories Source: Resources Wildlife and Economic Development Government of the Northwest Territories................................................... 51 2.4.16 2001 German Consumer Research: German Travelers Source: Canadian Tourism Commission ........................... 51 2.5 The Alberta / NWT Co-Operation and Development MOU...............................................................................52 2.6 Stakeholder Consultations ................................................................................................................................53 2.6.1 Groups interviewed.................................................................................................................................................... 53 2.6.2 Study Scope .............................................................................................................................................................. 54 September 2008 International Air Travel, Tourism and Freight Opportunity Study iv 2.6.3 Main Market Drivers................................................................................................................................................... 54 2.6.4 Tourism as a Driver.................................................................................................................................................... 54 2.6.5 Natural Resource Exploration and Development as a Driver .................................................................................... 56 2.6.6 Conventions and Meetings as a Driver.....................................................................................................................