Dawson Airport will once again be able to accommodate international flights starting May 2. The news announced in the Yukon Legislative Assembly on Thursday signals the long-awaited recovery of tourism in the Klondike region.
While the industry believed in the economic recovery to come, federal health restrictions at the border and the presence of the Canada Border Services Agency in Dawson still needed to be addressed, which is done.
Economic Development Minister Ranj Pillai reminded his colleagues of the importance of the flights arriving soon.
Currently, projections call for about 1.5 million passengers on cruise ships to Alaska. […] Dawson Airport plays an important role in connecting cruise ship visitors to the Yukon.»
© Claudiane Samson/Radio-Canada
Dawson Airport welcomes summer charter flights from Alaska.
Charter flights between Fairbanks and Dawson for Holland America cruise line customers are operated by carrier Air North. The company’s chairman and CEO, Joe Sparling, remains cautious about the promised recovery, but admits the numbers are encouraging.
Enthusiasm in Dawson
Marketing manager for the Klondike Visitors Association, Andy Cunningham, cannot hide his joy: We are very, very happy that tourism is back. I don’t think it will be like before 2019, this year, but we are expecting a busy summer.»
© Claudiane Samson/Radio-Canada
The historic Diamond Tooth Gerties Casino in Dawson City is operated by the Klondike Visitors Association.
Andy Cunningham says tourism entrepreneurs in the region have managed to survive the pandemic and are already preparing for a recovery this summer.
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Nevertheless, at this time of the year, he admits that it will be necessary to redouble efforts to attract seasonal workers. We hope for the best and will try to convince people to come and settle in Dawson for the summer.»
A slightly different industry
The news coincides with a new partnership between the Yukon real estate developer Northern Vision Developement and British Columbia’s Coast hotel chain for its Downtown hotel in Dawson City.
© Claudiane Samson/Radio-Canada
The Downtown Hotel in Dawson is a landmark landmark in the small Klondike town.
The takeover announcement is a good one, admits CEO Rich Thompson, but he remains cautious. We hope things will return to some normal and there won’t be another variant! Every time we anticipate a recovery, something else happens.»
The economic ups and downs caused by the pandemic, however, have made the company stronger, notes the president.
Rich Thompson says the company has had to look to new projects, such as residential complexes, and invest in its people. We have many projects and I believe that we will be stronger in the future.»
A cautious recovery
Minister Ranj Pillai is also confident in the economic recovery of the territory, both in the field of tourism and in other sectors of activity.
During the pandemic, $85 million, including $27 million in 2021, has been awarded to Yukon businesses through nine different financial support programs, said the minister, who believes the money has been well spent.
We were a leader in the country in 2017, and the gross domestic product for tourism was 5%, beyond Prince Edward Island“, he recalls.
The challenge will be finding staff, a challenge seen across the country, but consumers will be looking for something different. [Ils voudront] visit the places on their list and the Yukon is one of those places for many of them.»