Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The travel and tourism sector of our economy has seen tremendous growth over the past two decades. An increasing number of businesses in the Northwest Territories are providing a wide range of high-quality services to visitors from around the world.

This past summer, we saw an increase in campground and park revenue of 22 percent from 1997. Revenue from all regions was up with the largest gains being made in the North and South Slave Regions.

Mr. Speaker, the Northwest Territories has a number of advantages that hold tremendous appeal to visitors. We will continue to work with tourism operators to ensure that products and services utilize those advantages and that the tourism industry remains an important contributor to the well-being of northerners. Thank you.

--Applause