Market Ready Criteria

C/TFN will only consider permits and certification to market-ready operators. C/TFN also encourages operators to work with Caribou Crossing Adventure Company which packages tours for the Four Mountains Resort & Cultural Centre and the day trip market in the Carcross area. 

General
Operators must:

  • Maintain good standing of all applicable licenses, insurance, and C/TFN Code of Conduct.
  • Display brochure, rack card or website with professional photography, writing and layout.
  • Maintain a 36-hour or less turn-around time of all requests for information throughout the year.
  • Provide telephone, fax and email contact 7 days a week.
  • Provide 24 hour message/reservation service (i.e. answering machine).
  • Have an established consumer oriented billing, payment and cancellation policy.
  • Provide a negotiated commission on retail/published rates.
  • Have a current website that lists all services and products with contact information.
  • Have a consumer tracking/monitoring system.
  • Have a complaints handling process and cancellation policy.
  • Protect customers contact information and maintain privacy.
  • Have a pricing system that includes group and seasonal rates.
  • Have an emergency response plan.
  • Have a business and marketing plan.

Day/Adventure Programs
Operators must:

  • Ensure day tours provide a package of elements that make the tour entertaining, educational, enriching, hands-on, well-themed, value-added, and exceed expectations.
  • Clearly state booking policy and minimum numbers. 
  • Provide a safety orientation as part of the tour.
  • Have satellite telephone contact while on the road or in the wilderness.
  • Provide complimentary services to guides and/or drivers for groups over 15.

Attractions must:

  • Be open 7 days a week from at least May 24 to September 7.
  • Provide complimentary services to guides and drivers for groups.

Caribou Crossing Export Ready Criteria

Caribou Crossing is a wholesale company and will package all tour programs at the Four Mountains Resort and Cultural Centre as well as packaging for the day trip market. Caribou Crossing can help companies that are not export-ready by providing service under a Benefits Agreement.

To work with Caribou Crossing, a business must:

  • Meet all of the market ready criteria as applicable.
  • Have a trade oriented billing, payment and cancellation policy.
  • Provide net rate discounts or a minimum commission. 
  • Advertise and guarantee prices for 12 months in advance of travel.
  • Provide a wholesale tariff with net rate packages, business policies and contact information.
  • Accept tour operator vouchers as negotiated.
  • Provide marketing support materials (i.e. CD or colour photography).
  • Accept deposits of no more than 15% 180 days out.
  • Guarantee to provide equal or better value when substituting products that become unavailable.
  • Be willing to participate in Caribou Crossing familiarization tours for trade and media.
  • Provide staff trained to work with travel trade.
  • Provide special welcome and orientation services for groups.
  • Institute customized payment and booking policies for trade.
  • Offer block bookings and make them available at least 12 months in advance of arrival for accommodations and 6 months in advance for day or multi-day tour products.

Leave No Trace Guidelines

C/TFN has a stewardship role on the land and all activities must be undertaken with consideration of future generations and the animals which also must be able to enjoy the riches of the land. C/TFN supports the Leave No Trace Guidelines under the Wilderness Licensing Act.

  1. Plan to leave no trace.
    • Meal planning should include minimizing over packaging and garbage.
    • Avoid smelly, easily-spoiled foods, colognes and perfumes.
    • Choose travel and gear for both safety and minimal impact.
    • Use maps to plan low-impact routes and campsites.
    • Plan to pack a stove.
    • Bring a container for garbage and human waste.
  2. Camp and travel on durable surfaces.
    When hiking/traveling:
    • Use existing trails and do not create new trails.
    • Travel single file.
    • Where there are no trails, select a route over durable terrain. If you must walk across vegetated areas, spread out to avoid creating new trails.
    When camping:
    • Look for a campsite early to be selective.
    • Choose sites already impacted and clean up completely afterward.
  3. Pack in, pack out.
    • Burn all paper garbage; or
    • Pack out all garbage in an airtight, reusable container or double-bags.
  4. Properly dispose of what you can’t pack out.
    Wastewater and waste food:
    • Wash dishes in a container then drain the water into a hole away from tents and standing water.
    • Strained water may be released into the current of a swift-flowing river.
    • Encourage meal stops away from your camp to avoid attracting wildlife.
    • Avoid or minimize soaps and shampoos. If they cannot be avoided, use biodegradable products only and keep away from water sources.
    Human waste:
    • Toilets are to be at least 60m from any body of water and further if on a floodplain.
    • Feces can be disposed in a 15 cm hole dug by a boot or trowel. Add soil and stir to encourage decomposition and use remaining soil to cover. Pick a site well away from other campsites, preferably enroute and away from your campsite.
    • Used toilet paper should be packed out.
    • Large groups should build a latrine 30 cm deep and throw earth in after each use.
  5. Leave what you find
    Historic artifacts, archeological specimens and fossils must be left undisturbed. You must report an accidental discovery, unearthing of objects or sites to the Carcross/Tagish First Nation. It is unlawful to collect items without permission.
  6. Use stoves and small campfires
    Although abundant with firewood, the Yukon is often at risk for forest fires from the dry conditions. Campfires leave scars and sterilize soil, consider the need and impact of the fire.
  • If it is safe and necessary to have a campfire uphold the following suggestions:
    • Use an existing fire circle
    • If you are building a fire on an undisturbed site, use a fire pan or make a mound fire
    • Use only dead wood, preferably from fallen trees
    • Keep the fire small
    • Saw cuts leave signs, be discrete if you must saw
    • Burn wood down to ash before extinguishing. Alternatively, soak the fire then scatter the ashes and charred wood
    • Use sandbars and gravel bars where ever possible
    • Always use a stove where fires are prohibited

Wildlife Viewing Guidelines

Must ensure minimum impacts in wildlife viewing by:

  1. Giving ample viewing distance to minimize animal stress.
  2. Using binoculars, scopes and telephoto lenses (300mm or more) in observing wildlife.
  3. Not camping where there are signs of obvious wildlife use, such as nesting, denning, feeding or rutting sites.
  4. Not following fleeing or retreating wildlife to avoid separating a mother from her young, depleting the animal's energy reserves, or putting yourself in a dangerous situation.
  5. Being wary of what seems to be orphaned young, as the mother is likely near by.
  6. Learning behavioural characteristics of the wildlife species you expect to encounter.
  7. Taking your time and being quiet.
  8. Not feeding wildlife.
  9. Not approaching nest or den sites.
  10. Being familiar with acceptable viewing practices for the areas and seasons of your operation.
  11. Not marketing wildlife viewing opportunities that are unrealistic or would negatively affect the animals being viewed.

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