Last year's budget highlighted tourism as a priority for this government. Common Ground recommended increased investment in tourism marketing and product development. We agree.

Tourism can play a very important role in the diversification of our northern economy. Jobs in tourism will contribute to celebrating local history, preserving aboriginal cultures and sustaining the environment.

We have consulted widely over the last year with the tourism industry. We have developed our Tourism Strategy in collaboration with Northwest Territories Arctic Tourism. The strategy provides a focus for renewed investment in the industry. Our goals include strengthening the image of the Northwest Territories as a destination, revitalizing tourism training, supporting the creation of new tourism products in each region, supporting aboriginal and cultural tourism, and encouraging the growth of new markets in Europe and Asia.

If the hotel room tax is approved, we will invest $900,000 in new funding in the strategy. This represents the anticipated revenues to be generated by the hotel room tax in 2001-2002. In addition, the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development will reallocate $375,000 in existing funding to the strategy.