Close to $3.5 million in federal funds will be spent over the next four years on getting southern Canadians to visit the northern territories.

The funding was announced at a press conference held Friday morning by federal Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq, on behalf of John Duncan, the Minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor).

"We know the beauty and uniqueness (of the North) is unparalleled,” Aglukkaq told reporters as well as territorial and federal officials, including Treasury Board president Stockwell Day, gathered at the Whitehorse Visitor Information Centre.

The Canada's North Marketing Campaign is designed to build on previous pan-northern campaigns launched in 2010 with Canada's Northern House at the Olympics and an advertising campaign in 2007 around the same time that Whitehorse hosted the 2007 Canada Winter Games.

Primarily through television commercials, but also through websites and media relations, the campaign will be geared toward "outdoor adventurists and cultural explorers” and aimed at raising awareness about the activities offered in the three territories.

"Our government is investing in this marketing campaign to encourage more Canadians to experience the North's spectacular scenery and unique culture,” Aglukkaq said.

"This investment across all three territories will create significant long-term business and job opportunities in northern communities.”

There's no doubt the tourism potential in the North is tremendous, she said.

Speaking on behalf of her counterparts in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, Yukon Tourism and Culture Minister Elaine Taylor recalled five years ago the three territories started talking about banding together to promote themselves.

The Canada Winter Games was the first opportunity to do so and Taylor described it as a "magnificent success”.

That breakthrough was followed with the 2010 Olympic marketing campaign that saw 250,000 people stream through the doors of Northern House.

"It was an investment in people,” she said.

The latest campaign will begin in March to draw people here during the summer season, with ads airing nationally, though the campaign will not be bilingual.

As Taylor explained, the three territories want the biggest return on investment, and it was determined the best way to do that would be to offer it in English only.

The website for the campaign will feature a main page about the North, linking to separate pages about each territory.