Mr. Speaker, today is the first day of Tourism Week in Canada. It is a chance for us to highlight the tremendous importance of this sector to our national and local economies and to our lives as Canadians.
In the Northwest Territories tourism is a $113 million a year industry. More importantly, it is an area of investment that offers many spin-off benefits and has the potential to establish and grow viable and sustainable ventures in almost every one of our region’s 33 communities.
As a government we are acutely aware of the importance and significance of our tourism industry and the economic opportunities that it offers, particularly at the local level. Our Tourism 2010 Plan and the $15 million it represents in direct and leveraged investment is designed to capitalize on this potential and is one of the most significant commitments that has ever been made for tourism in the Northwest Territories.
The new Tourism Product Diversification and Marketing Program is a good example of Tourism 2010 in action. It is providing our industry and its operators with the insight and means to reinvent or expand their products and operations to meet the trends and demands that we anticipate will provide growth for our tourism industry in the future.
Meanwhile, the LookUp North campaign, sponsored last year by the NWT, Yukon and Nunavut governments, heightened the profile of Canada’s North to a new level and resulted in a significant increase in visitor traffic to the NWT last summer.
These tourism-based initiatives and others are the tools with which we are working to balance and increase the diversity of the Northwest Territories’ economy, maximizing opportunities and contributing to an improvement in the quality of life for all NWT residents.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to take the time today to recognize the board, staff and members of Northwest Territories Tourism, NWTT, who in their role as our destination marketing organization are an important and valued partner in our efforts on behalf of the tourism sector. In particular, I would like to offer best wishes on behalf of this Assembly to David Grindlay, whose guidance and vision have allowed the NWTT to significantly advance its role and resources in the last seven years and who will be leaving his position as executive director this summer.
Finally, Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize and salute the men and women who work in our valued tourism sector, individuals at every level whose service and reputation are building our industry and who are the face of our tourism industry to the world.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Ministers’ statements. The honourable Minister responsible for Persons with Disabilities, Ms. Lee.
