N.W.T. aurora tourism numbers double

Business is looking up, literally, for N.W.T.s tourism industry.

Total visitor numbers are up, and N.W.T. Tourism spokesperson Brian Desjardins said the greatest surge is in aurora viewing.

"This past season it did beat all records in the N.W.T.," he said. "It more than doubled."

Almost 16,000 visitors came to view the Northern lights, up from 7,500 the previous season, according to N.W.T. Tourism.

Desjardins said more solar flares this year meant more active aurora borealis. Satellite offices in other countries like Japan also help promote travel to the N.W.T.

Meanwhile, business at the territorys fishing lodges was down 15 per cent from the previous year.