Disappearance of Atsumi Yoshikubo no effect on Yellowknife tourism: operator
Beck Kennels says half of Yellowknife's visitors come from Japan
Tour operators in Yellowknife say the disappearance of a Japanese tourist last month hasn't slowed business — in fact, they say tourist numbers continue to increase.
- Missing tourist, Atsumi Yoshikubo, could lessen visits from Japan
- Atsumi Yoshikubo wrote a suicide note before leaving Japan
The RCMP have said Atsumi Yoshikubo, 45, came to Yellowknife with the intention of going missing.
"Our investigation also determined she had taken steps to avoid detection," said Const. Elenore Sturko after RCMP chose to end the search a week after Yoshikubo was reported missing.
RCMP later said Yoshikubo was presumed dead.
Staff at the Northern Frontier Visitors Centre in Yellowknife expected the news to impact future tourism from Japan, but at least three tour operators in Yellowknife say that's not the case.
Grant Beck, owner of Beck's Kennels, says half his visitors come from Japan.
"It didn't have any impact. In fact, I think it's increased one and a half times compared to last year — and last year was up also," Beck said.
Two other aurora operators, Aurora Village and Enodah Wilderness Travel, also say their bookings have not suffered.
New statistics from the Northwest Territories government show that more than one-third of vacationers to Yellowknife come for the northern lights.