Challenges of Arctic cruise tourism development in Canada: perspectives of federal government stakeholders

Cruise tourism, referred to as passenger shipping by the Government of Canada, has up until recently, been a growing form of tourism in Canada's Arctic. Changes in the physical environment of the Arctic have been responsible, in part, for this growth as previously inaccessible Arctic locations are now accessible to the small expedition cruise ships that typify this sector. Despite growth in the expedition cruise sector in Arctic Canada there is little to no guidelines, policies or institutional structures that specifically govern passenger transport. However, as awareness continues to develop around the implications for sovereignty, security and environmental management of increased shipping activity, it becomes clear that the cruise tourism industry must be considered in regional planning exercises and regional and federal policy development