Tourism in the Northwest Territories

Abstract

The attractions of tourism in the Northwest Territories include physical and human elements. Development of tourism has been marked by difficulties, but the activity shows long-term potential. Local skills and initiatives and community-based policies are the foundation on which the industry is diversifying the regional economy without disruptions of landscape or society. THE Northwest Territories accounts for one-third of the total area of Canada and stretches across five time zones, yet tourism in this vast region was insignificant until the 1980s. Although it is still in its infancy, and although it faces some important constraints, tourism in the Northwest Territories has tremendous potential as a contributor to the territorial gross domestic product. With that potential, however, comes the quandary of how to promote the growth of tourism and the economy without disrupting the area's fragile landscapes, environment, and social structures. This article provides an overview of the benefits and constraints of tour- ism development in a region still new to the industry. It also assesses the community-based tourism policies currently emphasized by the territorial government. The study draws on a range of sources, both published and unpublished, including reports, memoranda, internal research findings, and other raw data from governmental and associated agencies. One aim of the article is to show how such uncollated material can be marshaled to address