SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檒l believe it when I see itSA国际影视传媒� was North Star Adventures owner Joe BaileySA国际影视传媒檚 reaction to the recent territorial government announcement that leisure travel will resume on March 1 for the Northwest Territories.

RELATED REPORTING: Leisure travel in NWT to be allowed starting March 1, GNWT says

This statement echoes the difficulties and false hopes that NWT tourism operators have had to deal with since March 2020.

The task of accommodating northbound travellers looks to be challenging for operators like Bailey, who has had to resort to significant measures to stay afloat.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檝e sold most of our assets just to stay open,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淪o itSA国际影视传媒檚 going to be like starting right from square one 15 years ago with one vehicle. Literally, itSA国际影视传媒檚 crazy.SA国际影视传媒�

Bailey also condemned what he considers inadequate funding from the government. For him, the return of leisure travel is SA国际影视传媒渁 godsend.SA国际影视传媒�

For operators such as Dan Wong, owner of Jackpine Paddle and Richard McIntosh, owner of Sundog Adventures, preparations are also beginning for what is expected to be a very busy season of booking backlogs and finding adequate staffing.

More equipment will also be required in order to satisfy two years of deferred bookings, according to Wong.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e going to be very busy for the summer,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

McIntosh said staff will work additional hours as Sundog Adventures is SA国际影视传媒渞amping upSA国际影视传媒� for the summer season.

SA国际影视传媒淚 received two phone calls from potential clients in the (United) States, which is extremely good news because those are our traditional visitors that weSA国际影视传媒檝e had, and theySA国际影视传媒檙e a really important part of the tourism market,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

As for Bailey, heSA国际影视传媒檚 in the process of rehiring his staff as he SA国际影视传媒渃annot keep up right nowSA国际影视传媒� with the volume of business-related e-mails.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e about two days behind on e-mails,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒�(WeSA国际影视传媒檙e also) letting all of our vendors know that weSA国际影视传媒檙e behind on a few of them. Understandably so because of no revenue and the pandemic for the last two years.SA国际影视传媒�

Despite the challenges being faced in preparation for the summer tourism season, Bailey, McIntosh, and Wong share a sense of relief.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 incredible,SA国际影视传媒� said Bailey. SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 been 23 months. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 been tough for sure, so the best news weSA国际影视传媒檝e heard in two years: open the borders. ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 all weSA国际影视传媒檙e looking for was a date. I mean, we didnSA国际影视传媒檛 really care if they opened up in May 1 or June 1, as long as we had a date because then we could book with certainty with the clients.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 great that finally happened,SA国际影视传媒� said Wong. SA国际影视传媒淚 think it was quite a moment to read that (GNWT) news release and just think that after everything thatSA国际影视传媒檚 happened in the last few years, the borders open. It was a good day.SA国际影视传媒�

McIntosh is also SA国际影视传媒渢hrilledSA国际影视传媒� with the decision.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 long-awaited good news,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e hoping that the summer is going to be a busy year in Yellowknife.SA国际影视传媒�