Haines Junction is located in an area with major potential for further tourism development. Nearby Kluane National Park and Reserve has been designated a World Heritage Site. It offers the kind of wilderness tourism opportunities, especially ecotourism, that are growing in popularity among offshore tourists. While the park itself is a wilderness area, the administrative centre in Haines Junction has some interpretation services. Additional activities that encourage a wider range of tourists to use the park and its surrounding area would provide further employment. Adventure tourism, the fastest growing tourism activity in Haines Junction, is also important to future tourism work.
CAFN is already active in the tourism industry. It sits as a full partner on the Kluane National Park Management Board and, through its land claims agreement, co-manages natural and cultural resources in its traditional territory. The First Nation is promoting tourism development as a major element of its economic development policy. Its plans include providing accommodation and transportation services, and developing commercial products related to cultural interests.
With the emphasis on tourism development in Haines Junction, tourism occupations can be expected to grow. These include operating hotels, motels, campgrounds, restaurants, and outfitting and guiding businesses. There is some need for special skills, such as food preparation, but most workers will need strong communications skills and the knowledge required to run small businesses.
