Cruise ship to visit Arviat for 1st time in 10 years

For the first time in 10 years, a cruise ship is set to visit Arviat, Nunavut.

The arrival could point to a return for the industry, which brings many economic benefits to Canada's High Arctic. 

Martine Dupont, the manager of tourism development for the Department of Economic Development and Transportation, said six cruise ships visited Nunavut in 2012, and eight are expected this summer.

"Four of them are new ships that have never visited Nunavut before," she said.

The eight ships will make 35 stops in 12 communities.

While this is an increase, Arctic cruise tourism is still a far cry from numbers seen in the past. In 2008, cruise ships visited Nunavut communities a total of 70 times. In 2009, the number dropped to a total of 47 visits.