Few Canadian Community Museums are as closely tied to the Tourist Industry as those located in Yukon. With visitors to the area outnumbering residents by, at least, ten to one, museum activities are chiefly tourist motivated, frequently at the expense of other museum responsibilities. Kyte 1980, 4 

Nowhere is this economic importance more evident than in Yukon, where heritage development and interpretation contributes many millions of dollars to the Yukon economy. Dawson City is but one example. Tourism, Heritage, and Cultural Resources 1983, 1 

Museums in Yukon play an important role in enhancing the quality of life in the territory and contributing in a major way to the economic well-being of the region. It has been estimated by the Canadian Museums Association that over 45 million people per year attend museums across Canada. Museums draw more people than do all sporting events. Through tourism and related expenditures, as well as purchases of goods and services, our museums make a major contribution to our economic well being. YHMA 1984, 20 

We have also initiated a new Curator Director Assistants Program in the form of matching grants to our two largest museums, Dawson and McBride. This is to assist them in their efforts to become increasingly professional and successful. Tourism development has been strengthened through permanent staffing of two positions previously occupied by casual employees funded from capital program funds. YLA Minutes 

Many, many times - in reading tourism documents, and reviewing tourism strategic plans - people talk about the need to have people stay longer; to come to appreciate us; to know us better; to learn more about us. The museums in our communities offer that. They offer an opportunity for our visitors to spend at least an extra day. It takes some time to properly appreciate and enjoy the information, the exhibits and the efforts of the individuals contained in these museums. And I use the word "contained" loosely - they're not all contained. We have artifacts that are out of doors in several locations. YLA Minutes 

Museums are also a big part of our visitor experience. According to the 2004 visitor exit survey, 125,000 people visited heritage attractions in the Yukon . The survey further revealed that 58 percent of tourists visited a museum or heritage site, making heritage attractions the third most popular visitor activity. YLA Minutes 

It is these kinds of activities, events and experiences [Culture Days and Doors Open] that can spur visitors to seek out Yukon as a destination. Once they have arrived, there are opportunities to experience its rich culture, arts, heritage, and natural attractions and visitors return home with stories rooted through their travels to community museums, visitor centres, the Yukon Archives, Yukon historic sites and attractions, cultural events or activities. YLA Minutes 

Many visitors come for our culture. To that end, Yukon government provides $1.5 million in funding support to 12 museums, seven First Nation cultural or heritage centres and one umbrella organization. YLA Minutes