NWT Tourism wants to kickstart the tourism industry and rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic… if the time is right.
The organization has hired research firm Leger to conduct phone surveys and get feedback from residents on whether they feel ready to receive visitors in their community.
Residents who participate will also be asked how they feel if they see their community advertised to tourists and their overall perceptions of tourism in the NWT, among other questions.
The survey participants will be randomly selected across all regions. In addition to phone interviews, there will be an online survey open to all residents from Oct. 12 to 25.
CKLB asked whether researchers were aiming for a specific target of Indigenous participants.
“We want to collect data that is representative of the NWT’s population,” said Julie Warnock, communication officer for NWT Tourism.
But Warnock also said the survey will only be in English.
NWT Tourism refused to share the cost of the project but said it was “decided by a competitive process”.
These surveys are the first wave of the organization’s research to restart the tourism industry. It is hoping to receive at least 200 completed phone interviews.
Warnock said NWT Tourism would share a summary of the results with its members in November.
The dates for the second and third waves have not yet been determined, she added, but will not be until next year.
