Canada Examines 'Diamond Tourism'

Canada's Northwest Territories wants to turn its diamond-producing areas into tourist attractions.

"It's being strongly looked at," says Martin Irving, director of diamond projects for the Northwest Territories. "There is certainly interest in it from all the stakeholders, everyone from the miners to the retailers."

A report on prospects for "diamond tourism" argued that, while not many tourists are drawn solely by diamond-related attractions, when combined with other Northwest Territories attractions like the Aurora Borealis, diamond tourism could "sway an undecided visitor to choose the Northwest Territories over [another] destination" and could lead them to spend more time in the area.

One possible problem: The two local mines are unlikely to offer tours because of security reasons.

"There are differences of opinion as to how critical that is," Irving says. "In some of the other jurisdictions the mine tours were not necessarily big sellers."

But Irving said the area could provide a diamond museum as well as tours of factories and training centers.