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I am pleased to be here to talk to you about tourism opportunities in Canada and in the Northwest Territories. I would like to thank the Canadian Tourism Commission for organizing this event and for the work it does to help promote Canada as a tourism destination around the world and especially here in China.

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. If you want to experience Aboriginal culture, we have hundreds of First Nations stretching from coast to coast to coast ready to share their traditions with you.

The strong growth in visits by Chinese tourists that Canada has seen since receiving Approved Destination Status in 2010 speaks to the great experiences and opportunities our country can offer. All our provinces and territories are eager to welcome you and look forward to building stronger ties with the Chinese tourism market.

We think that Chinese tourists will love visiting every part of Canada, we know they will love the Northwest Territories. Our spectacular territory will give you the experience of a lifetime. We have a tourism company that caters to visitors to China, so you can be sure you are in good hands. 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. You can go fishing or hunting with our experienced guides.

The Northwest Territories offers you a true wilderness experience, away from the hustle and bustle of the city. You can get out of our capital city with a five-minute cab ride from your hotel, and be cross country skiing on a remote frozen lake or hiking in the woods. Or you can take a bush plane or a boat to get further into the wilderness.

We boast five national parks that preserve our northern wilderness, including two UNESCO World Heritage Sites – Nahanni National Park and Wood Buffalo National Park. You can come see our wildlife roaming free. Our songbirds, geese and ducks nest by the thousands on our tundra and lakes. Caribou migrate in huge herds. You can hike in a national park at the top of the world, or challenge a wild northern river that few have ever travelled. Our experienced outfitters provide all the gear and will even teach you what you need to know.

The northern lights are nature’s greatest light show. 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.

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.

Our territory has wide, open spaces with wildlife you have never seen before. Our roads are uncrowded, with parks and campgrounds that are perfect for wilderness adventures. Fish for world-class trophies on one of our super-sized lakes. Wood bison, moose and bears can be spotted right from the road.

We welcome the Chinese traveler 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, Yellowknife Tours understands what tourists from China want and can help provide a great experience in our spectacular Northwest Territories.

The Northwest Territories is like no other place on earth and I would invite you all to come and experience it for yourselves.

Thank you.