Latest news with #IndigenousTourism
CBC
08-08-2025
- Business
- CBC
International interest is growing for Indigenous tourism in northwestern Ontario
Social Sharing As domestic and international interest in Canadian tourism grows against the backdrop of a tariff war with the United States, Cindy Crowe is seeing more and more overseas customers come through her property. "I've had a gentleman from the U.K. twice and he's coming back again. I had a young woman come from Spain and she's coming back," said Crowe, the lodge keeper and sole proprietor of Niibing Tribal Tours. The business is located roughly half an hour southwest of Thunder Bay, in Neebing, Ont. Crowe adds she has also accepted bookings for tourists from the Philippines, France and Germany. This appetite for Indigenous tourism experiences is something that Indigenous tourism organizations across the province are seeing as well. According to Indigenous Tourism Ontario (ITO)'s website, approximately one third of international visitors to Canada are interested in seeking out Indigenous experiences. Last month, ITO received $250,011 dollars from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario (FedNor) to develop a strategy to fast track Indigenous tourism in the province's northern region. The overall plan is meant to attract more visitors from southern Ontario to the Manitoulin and Sault Ste. Marie corridor. Crowe, who is a member of Red Rock Indian Band, says the appetite for authentic Indigenous experiences is growing. "I'm very open to having non-Indigenous people participating, and so people get excited about that too because maybe they haven't had an opportunity before." Crowe's business offers a number of programs for visitors to engage in authentic Indigenous traditions, including sweat lodge ceremonies, deer hide drum making workshops, smudging ceremonies and lessons on how to grow your own medicine. Niibing Tribal Tours is also in the process of constructing 13 new cabins, expanding on their already established capacity for tents and trailers. Crowe says she was able to pay for the cabins using money she'd received through the Robinson-Superior Treaty, and chose this amount of cabins to reflect and share with guests the teachings of the 13 moons and the 13 grandmothers. Growing recognition on a broader stage Indigenous tourism operators across Canada contributed roughly $3.7 billion in revenues in 2023, which equated to a direct contribution of $1.6 billion to Canada's GDP, according to the latest report from the Conference Board of Canada. Local, non-indigenous tourism organizations are taking note of this increased interest in Indigenous tourism, and seeking ways to partner with regional companies. Crowe says, in recent months, she has engaged with local cruise ship operators in order to make it possible for passengers to take part in her retreats, as well as discussions with Tourism Thunder Bay and the Charity Games Complex. Tourist engagement with Indigenous programs has been steadily rising over the past few years in northwestern Ontario. In 2020, the Kay-Nah-Chi-Wah-Nung Historical Centre in Stratton, Ont., which is owned by Rainy River First Nations, won the Indigenous Tourism Award at the 2020 Ontario Tourism Awards of Excellence. In 2023, delegates for the Assembly of First Nations passed a resolution to seek funding for an Indigenous-led tourism strategy. The federal government's Tourism Growth Program (TGP) was designed to support the sector in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Of the $108 million dollars the federal government has pledged to support businesses, organizations and communities in developing tourism services and products, roughly $16.2 million has been set aside for Indigenous tourism initiatives. Community expansion on the horizon Not all Indigenous tourism programs have seen substantial growth in their non-First Nations customer base. Rather, some have been steadily growing their businesses organically through word of mouth. "We call it moths and telegraphs," said Jeordie Pierre, owner of the School of Indigenous Learning (SOIL), in Neebing. "Usually you have to kind of be in the loop, like we don't really do any publicizing." Despite a lack of publicity, Pierre estimates that 5000 people have come through the school in the past eight years. Most of SOIL's customer base is young Indigenous folks looking for a safe space to learn about their culture and traditional values. The business also regularly welcomes community and health organizations such as Community Living Thunder Bay and Brain Injury Services Northern Ontario. Some of the programs found at SOIL include grandfather teachings, lessons on clan systems, and hands-on land based teaching about nature. Pierre says he's attracted the interest of some non-Indigenous tourists since opening the business, but says he hopes to see more, so long as their visits are "organized right." I'm very open to having non-Indigenous people participating, and so people get excited about that too because maybe they haven't had an opportunity before. Larger First Nations bodies are also hoping to capitalize on a growing interest in Indigenous tourism. Last month, Grand Council Treaty #3 hosted a tourism strategy session to brainstorm how to better support local tourism operators. Grand Council Treaty #3 is the national governing body for the Anishinaabe Nation in Treaty 3 territory, a majority of which lies in northwestern Ontario. "Starting to host Treaty #3 tourist operator engagement sessions are so important because we have so many amazing businesses within the area that we really want to bring awareness to," said Hailey Krolyk in an emailed statement. Krolyk is Treaty #3's Senior Strategy and Innovation Manager. " Krolyk says Treaty #3's initial meeting with Anishinaabe tourism operators was meant to identify tourism activities and locations across their territory. They are also looking to lay out a plan for future eco-tourism development in the area. As tourism in northwestern Ontario continues to flourish, Pierre sees the benefits of interest in Indigenous experiences going beyond just increased revenue. "Our doors are open, right, so I really encourage people with other ethnic backgrounds to come and join us out there because it's nice to know each other's culture so that we could better get along and have a better understanding about each other. That's kind of like our little philosophy, how we look at things."
CTV News
31-07-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Indigenous Tourism Ontario aims to boost northern growth
Indigenous Tourism Ontario has introduced a new strategy focused on expanding the Indigenous tourism industry in northern Ontario. The group's president and CEO Kevin Eshkawkogan emphasized that Indigenous tourism is among the fastest-growing segments in Ontario's tourism sector. 'One in three international visitors are interested in Indigenous tourism experiences when travelling to Canada,' he said. 'As we found after the pandemic, now, one in three domestic travelers are interested in participating in Indigenous tourism experiences in Canada and specifically in Ontario.' Growing interest in Indigenous experiences Eshkawkogan attributed the rising interest to several factors, including a desire among travelers to engage with Canada's authentic history. 'With an influx of new visitors coming to Canada, they're interested in the true history of this country,' he said. 'To top that off, we're in the era of Truth and Reconciliation. And a lot of people want to know a different perspective.' On Manitoulin Island, Luke Wassegijig, tourism manager for the Wikwemikong Development Commission and Wikwemikong Tourism, reported a strong season so far. 'You're seeing a lot more domestic travelers, you know, from the province, making their way up – a lot of visitors from the Greater Toronto Area,' he said. 'There's a lot of Europeans back on the island, so, you know, it's kind of a normal year, kind of, where we were in 2019.' Indigenous Tourism Ontario - strategy Indigenous Tourism Ontario has introduced a new strategy focused on expanding the Indigenous tourism industry in northern Ontario. (Supplied/Indigenous Tourism Ontario ) Indigenous tourism corridor strategy unveiled At the beginning of July, Indigenous Tourism Ontario launched the Indigenous Tourism Corridor Strategy for northern Ontario with support from Destination Ontario and FedNor. The initiative aims to create curated travel itineraries featuring Indigenous businesses along the Toronto-to-Sault Ste. Marie corridor, including Manitoulin Island, to attract more tourists while supporting local enterprises. 'Our role is simply to improve the socioeconomic conditions of Indigenous people through the use of tourism,' said Eshkawkogan. 'We do that by supporting businesses and entrepreneurs and communities, to get involved by telling their story on their terms.' Still in its early stages, the project will engage with First Nations communities along the route to identify businesses interested in being included in the itineraries. The finalized travel plans will be revealed during a trade show in Toronto in May 2026. Bridging gaps in Indigenous tourism Wassegijig confirmed that Wikwemikong Tourism will participate in the strategy, noting its potential to strengthen connections across Indigenous tourism businesses in Ontario. 'We really [saw] a gap in terms of other communities and connecting other communities, in other corridors or other Indigenous tourism businesses in Ontario,' he said. 'So this is going to be a great way for Indigenous tourism to really connect to those communities and connect those businesses in Ontario.' Wikwemikong preparing for annual arts and music festival Meanwhile, Wikwemikong is gearing up for its annual Arts and Music Festival this weekend, featuring music, food, entertainment, and a powwow. Eshkawkogan highlighted the youth Masterchef competition as a key attraction. 'It's strictly focused on youth chefs this year, and it's about growing that capacity in the community and in the sector so that the future generation of chefs – Indigenous chefs – are at the forefront of everything that we're doing on the culinary side of the business,' he said. The festival events begin at 3 p.m. on Friday.
CTV News
04-07-2025
- Business
- CTV News
The Forks welcomes ‘Explore Indigenous' as new tenant
A display is pictured at the opening of Explore Indigenous on June 4, 2025. (Ken Gabel/CTV News) A new tenant at The Forks will highlight Indigenous tourism operators and bring more business to the industry. On Friday, The Forks welcomed Indigenous Tourism Manitoba and Turtle Tours to its market with the official opening of the 'Explore Indigenous' space. Through this initiative, Indigenous Tourism Manitoba will showcase a range of Indigenous tourism experiences, operators and artisans at one of the province's most historic sites. The space will include interpretive displays and a product showcase that will connect visitors with Indigenous businesses. The goal of Explore Indigenous is to bring awareness to the province's Indigenous tourism and drive up business. 'Indigenous tourism is a cornerstone of our tourism sector,' said Nellie Kennedy, minister of heritage, tourism and sport at a news conference on Friday. 'These experiences have the potential to become iconic Canadian tourism destinations, drawing visitors from across the country and around the world.' Indigenous Tourism Manitoba will share the space with Turtle Tours—a company that provides authentic Indigenous-led tours across the province. With this collaboration, Explore Indigenous will provide Turtle Tours with a reliable and accessible space for the company to book and package its tours. 'For thousands of years this land [at The Forks] has been a gathering place,' Kennedy said. 'Today we honour that legacy by creating space for Indigenous voices, stories and experiences to be shared with the world.' Explore Indigenous can be found in the north atrium of The Forks Market.
CBC
04-07-2025
- Business
- CBC
New space at The Forks aims to help visitors discover Indigenous tourism offerings in Manitoba
A new discovery space in Winnipeg aims to help people explore the growing Indigenous tourism industry in Manitoba. Explore Indigenous, launched at The Forks national historic site on Friday by Indigenous Tourism Manitoba and The Forks North Portage Partnership, was developed to build awareness and understanding of Indigenous-led tourism experiences in the province, a news release said. The space includes self-guided learning tools and interpretive displays that introduce people to Indigenous Tourism Manitoba's network of tourism operators. The space also serves as the new home for Turtle Tours, an Indigenous-owned walking tour and culinary experience, and Indigenous Tourism Manitoba's discovery centre. Ashley Smith, who owns and operates Turtle Tours and runs Turtle Village — a tourist destination in Riding Mountain National Park — said it's "monumental" for her operation to be among those opening in the Explore Indigenous space, in what she described as the heart of Canada. "It's not just a business, it's a story. It's one that's been passed down through generations, and it comes out of a deep love for our people and for the generations yet to come," Smith said at a Friday news conference to launch the space at The Forks, a national historic site where the Red and Assiniboine rivers meet that was an Indigenous meeting place for thousands of years before colonization. "Through these tours, we invite people into our history — not the one that's written in books, but the one that we carry in the land, in our memories and in our voices." Holly Spence, the chief executive officer of Indigenous Tourism Manitoba, said the space aims to "create more awareness about our Indigenous tourism experiences that we have here in Manitoba, and where to find them and what they have to offer." "As a growing industry, we really need to spread that awareness about where to find our authentic Indigenous-led tourism experiences and help drive traffic to those businesses," Spence said, adding the number of Indigenous tourism operators in Manitoba has grown in the past couple of years from 81 to more than 170. "Those businesses support economic development in their communities, they help create jobs, they help [people] support their families." Spence said the space will open on weekends initially, but there are plans to eventually expand those hours. It will also include a curated product showcase featuring artisans accredited by Original Original — an initiative from the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada that helps identify experiences that are at least 51 per cent Indigenous-owned — and linking people directly to Indigenous-owned businesses through QR codes. In the future, there will also be on-site retail, the release said. "It's about culture, it's about history, and it's about stories that have always been here. Indigenous tourism is growing in Manitoba," said Angela Cassie, chief operating officer of Travel Manitoba. Rotating displays and videos will also help tell stories of Indigenous tourism operators in Manitoba, while visitor information service staff can help travellers include an Indigenous tourism experience in their trip planning. Indigenous Tourism Manitoba has also launched its new guidebook, called Adventure to Understanding, which serves as a travel companion highlighting operators in Manitoba accredited by Original Original. It's all something Nellie Kennedy, Manitoba's minister of sport, culture, heritage and tourism, said plays a role in what she described as economic reconciliation. "It's important in the sense that we support Indigenous communities and tourism operators," Kennedy said.
CBC
01-07-2025
- 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.
