Yukon to spend $2.7M to continue tourism marketing campaign

The Yukon government has committedanother $2.7million over the next three years,to promote tourism in the territory.

Minister of Tourism and CultureElaine Taylor saidthe government spent $1.8millionover the last two years to produce six televisioncommercials promoting Yukon. The Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor) matched those funds, for a total of $3.6 million spent on the campaign.

The new money from the territory is intended to continue that marketing initiative, and Taylor hopes CanNor will again contribute matching funds.

Good for the territory

Yukon Chamber of Commerce chairpersonRich ThompsonsaidYukon is in a recession, and the new tourism dollars will be good for the local economy.

"The resource sector is verychallenged right now in the Yukon. There has never been a more important time for tourism to be properly and fully supported, and that is exactly what is happening with this program," Thompson said.

The "Yukon Now" marketing campaign saw two commercials launched last winter, focused on winter activities. Four new commercials, highlighting summer tourism, are airing this month on several Canadian channels. The government estimates the commercials have been aired more than 1,000 times.

"It is particularlychallenging for governments to make this kind of long term, significant investment in marketing initiatives. But the reality is that they do work," Thompsonsaid.

The government says the "Yukon Now" campaign also involves marketing initiatives in the U.S., Europe, China, Japan and Australia.