While the Yukon government celebrated a record-breaking year for tourism in the territory and the satisfaction of a campaign commitment last Thursday, opposition parties brought up some caveats for consideration.

In a ministerial statement, Tourism and Culture Minister Jeanie Dendys shared a number of record tourism figures from the Tourism Yukon 2017 year-end report.

It was a record year for international border crossings into the Yukon, overnight visitation, air arrivals in Whitehorse, and retail sales.

“With a record-breaking year behind us, the unlimited potential before us is an exciting time for tourism in the Yukon,” Dendys told the house.

“These figures also reaffirm the importance of our marketing efforts, specifically the Yukon Now program. I am pleased to be able to say that this government is increasing our investment in this successful marketing initiative.”

Yukon Now is targeted mainly to Canadian consumers and markets the Yukon as a “year-round travel destination,” Dendys explained.

Announced with the 2018-19 budget at the beginning of last month, the Yukon Liberal government is delivering on its promise to make temporary Yukon Now marketing funding permanent.

With $900,000 in annual funding from the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency expiring, the Yukon government is increasing its annual investment from $900,000 to $1.8 million to maintain the program budget.

“This was a campaign commitment, and we are pleased to be delivering on it,” Dendys said.

She pointed out that the Tourism Industry Association of the Yukon (TIAY) had expressed support for the investment.

Chair Neil Hartling is quoted in a government press release as saying, “We are pleased to hear the Government of Yukon will step up to maintain funding for Yukon Now, a game-changing marketing program. Yukon brand recognition is at an all-time high and this investment will help keep it there.”

But Yukon NDP Leader Liz Hanson brought up TIAY’s 2014 call for $2.5 million from the Yukon government for a marketing campaign.

“Imagine what the return on investment of that would be,” Hanson told the house last Thursday, after Dendys’ ministerial statement.

“Instead, like the previous government, this government is not investing new money into the Yukon Now program.”

While Geraldine Van Bibber, the Yukon Party’s Tourism and Culture critic, praised the previous work on and continued investment in the Yukon Now strategy, she also hedged criticism related to the impending price on carbon.

“The government was elected 17 months ago, and we still have not seen an economic analysis by them on the financial impacts of the carbon tax on the tourism sector,” Van Bibber pointed out.

She listed unknowns related to the tax’s impacts on the cost of doing business for tour operators, restaurants, hotels and airlines, the Yukon’s attractiveness as a destination compared to Alaska, and how tax revenues collected from visitors will be used.

“The increased visitation numbers are wonderful to hear about, and we are certainly glad to see continued funding for the great initiative that was started under the previous government, but these great announcements are exactly why we need to know what economic impact the carbon tax will have on our tourism sector,” Van Bibber concluded.

“I’m a little bit surprised at some of the comments — but maybe not — coming from across the way,” Dendys responded after Hanson’s and Van Bibber’s comments.

“That’s OK. Our government is very committed to diversifying our economy, to making very strategic investments in our territory, and that’s what we’re demonstrating today.”