Latest news with #IndigenousTourism
CBC
2 days ago
- Business
- CBC
'Terrible setback': Indigenous tourism industry says it's suffering as U.S. bookings decline
Social Sharing Indigenous tourism operators in Canada say they're worried about their future as the number of American guests plummets amid political tensions between Canada and the U.S. Indigenous tourism has been booming in Canada in recent years as people look for unique travel experiences and seek to learn more about Indigenous culture. According to the Conference Board of Canada's latest report, the Indigenous tourism sector generated an estimated $3.7 billion in revenues in 2023, directly contributing $1.6 billion to Canada's gross domestic product. The industry is warning hundreds of jobs and millions of dollars are now at stake. Dean Werk, the Métis owner of Great River Fishing Adventures, which operates on the Fraser River in B.C., said his business has lost about $250,000 this season since U.S. President Donald Trump's trade war began. "It's a terrible setback," he said. "This is actually tragic and terribly impactful to all Indigenous tourism businesses in Canada." 'Such an important market' Werk is not alone. In April, the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada surveyed about 100 Indigenous tourism operators that market to American clients. Nearly 70 per cent reported a drop in U.S. bookings. Association president and CEO Keith Henry said American tourists account for up to 35 per cent of overall revenue for Indigenous tourism operators. "Hundreds of jobs, if not thousands of jobs, are at stake here, if the season does continue to see declines," Henry said. He estimated the industry could lose as much as $500 million this summer. "We've been building Indigenous tourism and we've been focusing on the U.S. market … for many years," Henry said, adding that the U.S. is the sector's largest international market. "It's such an important market for us." WATCH | Indigenous businesses say they are losing U.S. clients: Indigenous tourism operators see drop in U.S. visitors 4 days ago Duration 2:00 Talaysay Campo, co-owner of Talaysay Tours, which offers nature walks, among other experiences around B.C., said U.S. corporate groups totalling about 1,000 guests have cancelled bookings for this summer. "We've been building these relationships for the past 21 years, and to see them go, it makes me sad," she said. She said total sales and revenue from Americans totalled about 33 per cent of the business last year — it's now dropped to 12 per cent. Ottawa monitoring situation In a statement to CBC News, the federal government said it "understands that the evolving dynamics in the Canada–U.S. relationship have direct and varying impacts on the tourism sector across the country, including Indigenous tourism operators." It said it's "monitoring developments in this important sector and remains engaged with all tourism partners, including Indigenous partners." Ottawa noted that more Americans visited Canada in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period last year, adding there has been an increase in bookings to Canada from overseas travellers from countries such as France, the U.K. and Mexico. The federal government said it has invested $20 million to support more than 330 Indigenous tourism businesses through the Indigenous Tourism Fund, and 15 per cent of the Tourism Growth program is set aside for Indigenous-led tourism programs. While many Indigenous tourism businesses say they are struggling, a smaller eco-resort in B.C. is making some gains. Klahoose Wilderness Resort, owned by the Klahoose First Nation on B.C.'s Desolation Sound, about 150 kilometres northwest of Vancouver, said its Canadian market has grown about 40 per cent over the last year. "I think with everything that's going on in the world, a lot of people are looking at what else can I do that's closer to home," said Chris Tait, tourism manager for Klahoose Wilderness Resort. The business hasn't seen any particular increase in cancellations, and American guests have increased by about 15 to 20 per cent. But Henry from the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada said he's not optimistic that Canadian bookings will help the overall industry make up for the loss of American ones. "We're telling ourselves that domestic tourism is going to somehow mitigate all these problems. … I think it's going to help somewhat, but our U.S. customer base was spending a lot more per person than the average Canadian," he said. Henry said the industry is trying to pivot to focus on other international markets.
The Guardian
20-05-2025
- The Guardian
Walk with the world's oldest living culture in Western Australia
There are few places on Earth where stories stretch back 60,000 years, and even fewer where those stories are still being lived, told and passed down through generations. Western Australia is one of those rare places: a vast, wild land where the world's oldest continuous living culture invites travellers not just to admire the stunning landscape they walk through, but to connect with it. Across the state, from the rugged red cliffs of the Kimberley to the turquoise waters of the South West, a growing number of Aboriginal tourism experiences offer visitors the opportunity to connect deeply with self, with others and with country. Designed for all ages, the tours are fun, hands-on and moving. To walk alongside an Aboriginal guide in WA is to see the land not just for what it is, but for everything it holds: knowledge, culture, spirituality and identity. In the state's South West, two tour operators – Kurrah Mia in Albany and Koomal Dreaming in the Margaret River region – offer immersive journeys that bring the beauty of this incredible place to life through the eyes of its traditional custodians. Aboriginal Walking Tour with Kurrah Mia, Denmark. Photo credit: Base Imagery. Near the coastal city of Albany, also known as Kinjarling, or 'place of rain', the team at Kurrah Mia welcomes visitors to walk in the footsteps of the Menang Noongar people. Guided tours pass on knowledge from elders to the next generation and to all who walk with them on country. On the Mount Clarence Walking Tour, guests walk with an experienced Menang guide, learning how the Menang people used ochre, plants, stone, bone and fire in daily life, as tools for hunting, medicine, storytelling and survival. Every element of the landscape has purpose and meaning, from the native flora that once healed wounds to the birds whose call signals change with each season. The Aboriginal Walking Tour to Quaranup takes guests deeper still, following ancient paths to Quaranup (or Kwooranup – place of the brush-tailed wallaby). It's here that you begin to understand how closely the Menang people lived in rhythm with the tides and seasons. Among granite outcrops and sea-swept cliffs, tour participants discover ancient stone structures, engravings, waterholes and artefacts left untouched by time. When the tides allow, the group ventures to the rocks to forage for shellfish, just as the ancestors once did. Dreaming stories, woven with culture and song, bring the walks to life and cast the land in a new light. The experience isn't just about what you see; it's about what you begin to feel. Kurrah Mia's tours are an invitation to slow down, listen and start to understand the bush as a vibrant, living classroom. Through bush food tastings and lessons in native medicine plants, visitors gain an understanding of how the Menang people thrived here for tens of thousands of years – long before Albany became a port town and maps drew lines across the landscape. Aboriginal Cultural Tour at Ngilgi Cave Ancient Lands Experience with Josh Whiteland from Koomal Dreaming. Photo credit: Tourism Western Australia. Further west, in the picturesque Margaret River Region, the founder of Koomal Dreaming, Josh 'Koomal' Whiteland, offers guests a deeply personal encounter with Wadandi and Bibbulmun country. The Aboriginal Food, Cave and Didge Tour is a multisensory experience that begins with a gentle walk through native bush, where guests learn to identify seasonal foods and medicinal plants that have nourished generations. Then, the journey moves underground into Ngilgi Cave, a sacred site where time seems to slow down. A gifted storyteller, musician and cultural custodian, Josh shares Dreaming stories passed down by his ancestors. His didgeridoo performance, in the cave's cool, cathedral-like chambers, reverberates with a haunting, ancient beauty. After emerging from the cave, it's time to gather around the campfire to feast on the likes of kangaroo, emu and seasonal bush foods such as saltbush and quandong – all paired with local Margaret River wines and beers. For an experience of a different kind, the Twilight Didgeridoo Cave Tour invites guests into Ngilgi Cave after hours. As the sun sets above ground, the cave becomes a sanctuary of sound and story. This 90-minute tour ends in stillness, with the soft glow of lanterns casting shadows on the limestone walls while the didgeridoo speaks its ancient song. On his tours, Josh encourages guests to reflect on their place in the world, their responsibilities to nature and the importance of keeping culture alive. Aboriginal Walking Tour with Kurrah Mia, Denmark. Photo credit: Base Imagery. Whether you're exploring cultural sites, learning about bush foods or listening to elders share history, these guided Aboriginal tours give context and depth to the landscape around you. For travellers who want to understand more than just the scenery, the tours offer a powerful way to see the South West region through a different lens – and to better understand the deep cultural connections that continue to shape life across Western Australia. Discover more at
