Indigenous Tourism is growing in Canada and Alberta is leading the pack. Yesterday over 100 people gathered at Mac Island as part of a conference put on by Indigenous Tourism Alberta. The symposium is one of three gatherings in Alberta to discuss and help spur development in a growing industry that contributes to 166 million dollars in GDP and $252 million in spending every year.

“Indigenous Tourism is one of the highest-demand tourism products in Canada,” said Shae Bird, CEO of Indigenous Tourism Alberta.

“One-third of tourists coming from the European Union, and 65 per cent of tourists coming from France are visiting for Indigenous Tourism experience.”

Bird says the most exciting thing for him is seeing businesses mature, hone their craft, and provide world class experiences.

“The thing is it makes sense economically, but we know the social aspects for Indigenous Peoples are even further reaching,” said Bird.

“It provides language, cultural revitalization, as well as engaging Elders and youth. It allows people to learn and reengage with who they are, and then become culturally self-sustaining and sharing their story with their voice in a way they want it to be shared.”

There are over 200 Aboriginal Tourism operators in Alberta, but Bird says roughly half of them are in the development phase of their business. Bird also says the industry has moved beyond outfitters for hunting and fishing, and now encompasses Indigenous Culinary experiences and showcases how the culture has evolved.

“We don’t just see the historical stories, but also the ‘today’ stories,” said Bird.

“The majority of Canadians have no idea how much growth is occurring in Indigenous Tourism, and we’re only just beginning to scratch the surface.”