Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On the heels of my Member’s statement, I would like to pose questions to the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment. As we all know, the Minister is well educated in Japanese tourism so I don’t have to go into the value and the dollar amounts that they bring to the Northwest Territories. With all of that said, Mr. Speaker, in brief, would the Minister look at the feasibility of creating an NWT office in Tokyo, Japan? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, Mr. Bell.
Return To Question 4-15(4): NWT Tourism Office In Tokyo
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Let me first start by applauding the Member’s efforts to take the local company up on its offer to accompany them on a tour of Japan. I think it is important that we seek to better understand a number of different aspects of our tourism industry. I think this is certainly a good start. In terms of what we need to do going forward and how we look to develop the Aurora tourism industry, I met the other day with the new president of NWT Tourism. We have agreed that -- and this has been ongoing for some time now -- we are pretty close to being able to roll out a proposed new model for tourism that will separate and make distinct the industry advocacy function of the organization, separate from the destination marketing aspect. I think this is a real departure from the current state of affairs. I think it will be a marked improvement. We need to come forward to committee to have discussion on how that might operationally work and what it will mean. I think we are scheduled to do that either late in the week or early next week. I look forward to that discussion.
All of this is building toward additional support, I hope, in the business plans for tourism and for the industry. There are a number of things we can do. The proposal, such as the one that the Member has made, sounds very interesting. I would like to learn more about what would be required to increase our presence on the ground in Japan. I am sure there are a number of options ranging from a full-blown office to probably contracting some support on the ground in Japan. I would like to talk to the Member more about that and to the committee. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Bell. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.
Supplementary To Question 4-15(4): NWT Tourism Office In Tokyo
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the Minister’s perspective on that, because it sounds very positive. On a further note, when I was in Japan, I noticed that, speaking to people and I heard from the Japanese people, a presence of Canada and the aurora as a concept has a very low to minimum or, even further, non-existence profile. That is really what I am concerned about. We have an opportunity for a major impact. With all of that being said, would the Minister look at creating maybe a joint working group between industry, Regular MLAs and himself to help maximize our aurora opportunities in the North for all of the North? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Bell.
Further Return To Question 4-15(4): NWT Tourism Office In Tokyo
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would certainly consider a range of options. I think the Member raises a very good point. After we sit down with committee, any initiatives moving forward would have to involve industry quite clearly. I think we recognize as a government that we can do more in terms of destination marketing. If our presence is very limited on the ground in Japan and we don’t have much of a profile, then we need to do something to address that very quickly. I would like Members’ thoughts. I would like committee’s thoughts on this, and also industry. So we do have to find a vehicle or mechanism for making sure that our government can work closely with Regular Members and the committee and, indeed, the industry association. What form that might take is certainly something that is up for discussion and up for debate. I am prepared to have that discussion. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Bell. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.
Supplementary To Question 4-15(4): NWT Tourism Office In Tokyo
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again on the heels of my Member’s statement, I spoke about visiting the Canadian pavilion. It wasn’t my intention to go to the pavilion, but I happened to be in the area so I made the extra effort to pop over for a few minutes and see the enthusiasm about the aurora. What I noticed key was the fact that the enthusiasm was built up to such a peak, then there was no one to send them in a direction of booking tours or acknowledging where to go, other than pointing to a map. Would the Minister take those types of comments and look into and investigate an opportunity that we can help promote the Northwest Territories as a destination of choice, rather than letting that enthusiasm fizzle away when they return home after visiting the Canadian pavilion? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Bell.
Further Return To Question 4-15(4): NWT Tourism Office In Tokyo
Yes, Mr. Speaker. It sounds like quite a pent up demand for our product. We have to make sure that we have a way to deliver. There is no sense in creating this demand and not being able to satisfy it and not having someone on the ground ready to make sure we can channel people to the Northwest Territories. I think this speaks to our overall presence. I am very interested in hearing about the Expo site. As the Member knows, I haven’t been. We did send a reconnaissance team, a couple of staff people, to see the pavilion. It wasn’t yet fully constructed. I would like to take advantage of the Member’s knowledge and sit down and talk about logistically how we can make sure that we build this and to not only the week of focus that we are going to have, but a presence of some sort throughout the four-month-long event to make sure that as people come and have questions, somebody is there to answer them and to channel this interest to the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
