'Thank goodness,' says tour operator as N.W.T. set to reopen to tourism March 1

Tour operators were happy to learn Friday that the N.W.T. will be open to tourists starting March 1 regardless of vaccination status after nearly two years of COVID-19 related travel restrictions.

The government made the announcement Feb. 11 in a press release.

All travellers will still have to submit a self-isolation plan "which will determine requirements upon entry after travel, such as self-isolation if necessary," the release reads.

The government said this will make travel requirements for visitors consistent with requirements for N.W.T. residents. Visitors will also have to follow current public health orders, like mandatory masking and gathering limits.

The release said the announcement is being made now, in anticipation of a downward trend in COVID-19 cases in the territory, to give the tourism industry time to prepare.

"My response? Thank goodness!" said Gordon Gin who runs Yellow Dog Lodge out of Yellowknife. "Thank you is the big word of the day.

"But on a sad note, it should have happened months ago because we've lost some bookings we can't get back."

Gin had previously said he's lost at least one $55,000 booking because he couldn't provide clients with any certainty he'd be open this summer.

He's concerned some clients will still be wary about booking until more restrictions are lifted,

"Me as an owner I have to be a little more patient," he said. However my patience is getting pretty thin, right?"

Not to be a 'negative Nancy'

Jimmy Kalinek runs Only Way Outfitting in Inuvik.

For Kalinek's business, finding out about the opening now, is still short notice.

"My season is starting here in March, April, May," he said.

Kalinek is currently working on plans for a remote camp for tourists this spring, under the government's exemption for remote tourism operators, to limit contacts between his home community and tourists.

"It's kind of not the best way to show the Northwest Territories, but you take what you can and make the best of it, I guess," he said.

Kalinek's business was fairly new when the pandemic started, so he said he already had a back-up plan in place when COVID-19 hit.

He worked with scientific projects, taking on some of the work government and non-governments employees couldn't come up North to do during the pandemic.

Now that things are opening up, Kalinek said he doesn't want to be a "negative Nancy" but he's proceeding with caution, because of the possibility of future variants and outbreaks.

"So it's always going to be in the back of our heads, you know? For me, it's keeping my community safe before anything else."

File self-isolation plan early

The government is asking travellers to expect some delays in processing self-isolation plans, and telling people to apply for a plan seven to 10 days prior to when they plan to enter the territory.

Dr. Andr Corriveau, deputy chief medical health officer, said in the news release that the government wants to "normalize things like masking, staying home when sick, and other measures that have proven to make a difference in protecting the vulnerable" as the territory gets ready to lift its broad public health mandate.

"We are looking forward to seeing N.W.T. businesses and operators finally welcome back visitors and show them how spectacular our territory truly is," said Caroline Wawzonek, minister for Industry, Tourism and Investment, in the same news release.