Indigenous Tourism Leading the Charge in Alberta’s Rebounding Visitor Economy

Operators throughout the province spotlight Indigenous tourism’s energy



National Tourism 7 days runs May well 29-June 4 and reps of Alberta’s Indigenous tourism business are set to spotlight why they are poised to guide the way in economic progress for the province.
“There is still a ton of perform to be done, but 1 matter has been produced apparent more than this past 12 months: the Indigenous tourism market is in expansion method,” explained Shae Chicken, CEO of Indigenous Tourism Alberta. “With summer season promptly approaching, our Indigenous operators throughout the province are energized and ready to welcome company to interact in a broad selection of activities.”
An once-a-year celebration of tourism throughout Canada, National Tourism Week will get set to kick-off underneath the theme Journey Now: For Get the job done, Lifestyle, and Participate in. From coastline-to-coast-to-coast tourism partners come alongside one another to winner and endorse Canada’s places, tourism firms and staff.
Enjoying a crucial position in Canada’s long term tourism growth is sustainability, a role ITA’s member operators are incredibly common with. Enterprises these types of as Mahikan Trails, Painted Warriors and Hideaway Experience Grounds continue to actively endorse harmony with the land they inhabit and combine those teachings into just about every of their choices.
Tourism is crucial to Alberta and Canada and not only for its capability to crank out economic exercise, but also for its potential to showcase our values. The COVID-19 pandemic experienced a devastating influence on tourism throughout the globe, however Indigenous tourism was especially tricky strike and operators in Alberta felt individuals impacts. Now, by way of the challenging operate and resilience of operators, 2021 saw modest gains in GDP contribution and work, setting 2022 up as a yr for huge development and option.
Métis Crossing is a pivotal instance of the resilience and escalating strength of the Indigenous tourism marketplace.
As Alberta’s initial significant Métis cultural interpretive desired destination, Métis Crossing made use of the pandemic as an possibility to reinforce its offerings and programs. Metis Crossing’s leaders entered into a joint undertaking partnership with Visions, Hopes and Goals to reintroduce bison and heritage species to the freshly set up Visions, Hopes and Goals at Métis Crossing Wildlife Park. Additionally, it expanded its hospitality choices over and above the previously founded campground facilities to involve the recently-opened Lodge at Métis Crossing, a 40-place, boutique luxury lodge overlooking the North Saskatchewan River.
Métis Crossing was capable to build these choices simply because of the enhanced fascination across Alberta in understanding about the land and the Peoples that have inhabited it given that time immemorial.
Moreover, throughout Alberta, ITA customers are taking part in a key position in reconciliation. Associates these types of as Warrior Females, Talking Rock Tours and Buffalo Stone Woman are contributing to the collective knowing of Indigenous viewpoints, history and long term by obtaining guests related to the record of the land they inhabit via wilderness education and learning, Indigenous traditions and fingers-on training.
ITA’s associates across the province are operating really hard to improve Alberta’s financial system.
Discover the whole record of ITA users and their travel tales at IndigenousTourismAlberta.ca.