Tourism a fast-growing industry.(Nosta Advertorial)

Open a conversation with Paul Pepe about tourism and his voice instantly takes on a different timbre; an almost childlike excitement and enthusiasm for a subject that is close to the heart.

"(Tourism is) definitely an exciting topic. I love to talk about it," says Pepe, the northern development tourism advisor for the Ontario Ministry of Northern Development and Mines. "As an outdoorsy-type myself, as someone who likes fishing, canoeing and kayaking, I can really see the potential for its growth."

Next to forestry and mining, no other industry in the North employs as many people, perhaps as much 35,000 people or more in the North of Superior tourism area alone. And while hunting and fishing have traditionally accounted for the bulk of tourism in the North, with summer being the peak season for tourism activity, this trend is starting to change, says Pepe.

More and more people are coming north in the winter for snowmobile touring and ice fishing.

"We're seeing the winter market certainly start to grow," he says.

Ecotourism and adventure tourism is also a segment that is starting to see an increase in activity, says Pepe. The Rossport Islands on Lake Superior North Shore, for instance, is considered one of the top 10 sea-kayaking areas in North America. Wabakimi, …