ABSTRACT
The economy on Banks Island is primarily based on hunting and trapping, and tourism does not appear to be a high revenue generator. Banks Island presents a particularly compelling case study given the combined potential for increased tourism and the lack of a sustainable tourism management plan. Furthermore, sustainable tourism discussions about Banks Island are exacerbated by current documentation on the effects of climate change. The fragility of the ecosystem on Banks Island and the anticipated changes resulting from climate change alone may be the cause for a sustainable tourism management strategy. An imminent and growing environmental concern in the Arctic generally is climate change. Banks Island is primarily promoted to naturalists and sport hunters. Its marketing strategies overwhelmingly reflect these two niche markets. The untouched Arctic environment and big game species are prime motivators for tourists to Banks Island. Sport hunting is a consumptive tourism activity and is known to promote physical, psychological, social and emotional benefits.
