I would like to open our roundtable discussion here today by giving you a bit of information about tourism in Canada and the Northwest Territories.

Canada is a huge country with many diverse regions offering great tourism opportunities for Chinese people. Wherever you are in Canada, our vast wilderness and major cities alike offer the traveler the chance to explore, discover and experience something new every time. Whether you are interested in arts and culture, fine dining or outdoor adventure, Canada has got it.

We think that Chinese tourists will especially love the Northwest Territories. Our spectacular territory will give you the experience of a lifetime and is truly a northern paradise.

We offer authentic cultural getaways. You can go dog mushing or snowshoeing beneath the northern lights. You can stay at our luxury wilderness accommodations and go hiking or paddling under the midnight sun – our summers get up to 24 hours of daylight. You can go fishing or hunting with our experienced guides. Our experienced outfitters provide all the gear and will teach you anything you need to know about getting the most out of your adventure.

Although the Northwest Territories offers a true wilderness experience away from the hustle and bustle of the city, it is well connected with airports in nearly every city and town, and access to all the modern amenities you need.

I am sure you have heard of the northern lights, and they truly are nature’s greatest light show. In fact, the Northwest Territories is often referred to as “The Aurora Capital of the World.” On winter nights in the Northwest Territories, the Aurora Borealis is often so vivid it seems close enough to touch.

You can watch them while standing on a frozen lake, or from an outdoor hot tub at a wilderness lodge, or a heated and enclosed deck chair on a 360-degree viewing deck.

It is a magical experience and we in the Northwest Territories are lucky enough to see them regularly on winter nights. You can too when you visit.

If it is Aboriginal culture you are interested in, the Northwest Territories is the place for you. We are home to seven different Aboriginal peoples and half of our residents are Aboriginal. Aboriginal traditions are still vibrant in our small communities and many of our people still enjoy time on the land participating in traditional activities like hunting.

Our traditional artisans produce world-class works of Aboriginal art, including carvings, moose hair tufting and birch bark baskets. We are also one of the largest producers of high-quality wild fur, which has been extremely popular with Chinese travellers who want a fashionable memory of the Northwest Territories.

We welcome Chinese travelers and are proud to have a local tour company – Yellowknife Tours – that caters specifically to the Chinese market. Founded by a team of Chinese origin, YK Tours understands what tourists from China want and know how to provide a great experience in our spectacular Northwest Territories. They also speak Mandarin and Cantonese, so you can be sure your clients are in good hands.

The Northwest Territories is like no other place on earth and I’d invite you all to come and experience it for yourselves. We are eager to welcome you and look forward to building stronger ties with the Chinese tourism market.

Thank you.