Visitors to Canada’s eastern Arctic want more cultural experiences

2011 Visitor Exit Survey found most visitors are men on business trips

People who visit Canada’s eastern Arctic territory of Nunavut say they want more contact with Nunavummiut, the territory’s Inuit population, according to the 2011 Visitor Exit Survey.

The results of the survey were released Monday in Iqaluit.

“The people, the wildlife and getting out on the land and actually experiencing the culture are always very high on the list,” said Colleen Dupuis, Nunavut Tourism’s chief executive officer.

Some who filled out the survey said there needs to be improvements in overall costs, airport quality and access to the land.

The survey also found that almost three quarters of visitors to the territory are men between the ages of 40 and 65 who are mainly coming for business.

Dupuis said more visitors are coming on shorter trips of one to five nights, which is a trend seen across the country.

The typical visitor’s income is between $50,000 and $150,000 a year.

Most visitors are from Canada and have post-secondary levels of education.

Last year, tourism was also up by 13 per cent, generating $40 million in revenue for Nunavut.

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