New Parks Canada programming and guided tours by tourism partners provided high quality and engaging visitor experiences

Whitehorse, Yukon, September 23, 2013 -- Today, Parks Canada highlighted successes from the 2013 visitor season in the Yukon and formally thanked Yukon tourism operators that provided guided tours at S.S. Klondike and Dredge No. 4 during the summer season’s pilot arrangements.

The 2013 season also included some new and improved Parks Canada programming and products such as downloadable apps for Smartphones, the Robert Service hike in Dawson City, the Chilkoot Trail National Historic Site Artists in Residence Program (expanded to three artists), the new Kluane National Park Visitor Centre (located in the Daku Cultural Centre in Haines Junction) and the Fireweed Market tent and outreach programs.

“Parks Canada is proud to have collaborated with local businesses to provide engaging visitor experiences at S.S. Klondike and Dredge No. 4,” said Mr. Ryan Leef, Member of Parliament for the Yukon. “Visitors responded well to these new experiences and we heard from visitors that they were very satisfied with the high quality of programming offered.”

Parks Canada has also received feedback from the tour operators. Based on this feedback, Parks Canada is responding to their needs by revising the process for the business licensing and creating a process where both the visitor and the operators have successful experiences with more stability and predictability to contribute to a successful business arrangement. In the coming days, a Request for Proposals process will be launched that reflects changes to the process for business licensing and will position Parks Canada for success in the future.

Parks Canada works to ensure Canada’s historic and natural heritage is protected and, through a network of 44 national parks, 167 national historic sites and four national marine conservation areas, invites Canadians and people around the world to engage in personal moments of inspiring discovery at our treasured natural and historic places.

For more information on national parks and national historic sites in the Yukon, please visit www.parkscanada.gc.ca.

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Information:
Elise Maltin
External Relations
Parks Canada
867-667-3921
www.twitter.com/parkscanada