By Sam Laskaris, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter WINDSPEAKER.COM

The good news is that there is growing demand for Indigenous tourism across Canada.

But the not-so-good news is the industry is still falling short of post-COVID recovery goals according to a report released on Jan. 23 by the Conference Board of Canada (CBOC) and the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC).

B次元官网网址淚 was expecting it to be stronger,B次元官网网址� Keith Henry, who serves as the ITAC president and CEO, said of the report research that was delivered, adding he was disappointed with the data compiled.

Henry though was not shocked to see the non-Indigenous tourism industry is faring better across the country.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 not surprised by the outcome because I know there has been limited support for actual Indigenous marketing and Indigenous tourism support,B次元官网网址� he said.

ThereB次元官网网址檚 no denying Indigenous tourism is capable of playing a significant role in the countryB次元官网网址檚 economy.

According to the just-released report, Indigenous tourism in 2023 directly contributed $1.6 billion to CanadaB次元官网网址檚 Gross Domestic Product (GDP). That was a decrease of 10 per cent compared to 2019, the year before the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

When adjusted for inflation, the report said the GDP decrease was almost 24 per cent.

Henry said Indigenous tourism operators have been pleading with government officials and the private sector for much needed financial assistance for years.

B次元官网网址淭he lack of a real focus and commitment to Indigenous tourism has contributed to this outcome,B次元官网网址� Henry said. B次元官网网址淲e feel thatB次元官网网址檚 a missed opportunity for the industry.B次元官网网址�

Henry doesnB次元官网网址檛 foresee positive changes in the near future.

B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 think Canada is going to put any money into it any time soon,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 havenB次元官网网址檛 seen any major investments for Indigenous tourism for the last few years. IB次元官网网址檝e been on record in the media talking the last few years. And people thought I didnB次元官网网址檛 make any political friends. But the truth was my job was to advocate for the needs of our industry.B次元官网网址�

Henry added talk can indeed be cheap, if not followed through with action.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 a real disconnect between writing us in public statements and policy and then not really investing in it,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淎nd so, I donB次元官网网址檛 see any major investments on the horizon from Canada. And any real investments or support coming from the private sector.B次元官网网址�

A report on the state of the Indigenous tourism industry in Canada was first released in 2015.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e back now to 2014 levels,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 unfortunate because the regular industry has rebounded (from the pandemic) and actually surpassed 2019 levels. WeB次元官网网址檙e still below 2019 levels. And youB次元官网网址檝e got to ask why.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not that visitor demand is not there. There is a lack of support from marketing and infrastructure to continue to help consumers find our experiences and our product. We have to speak loudly about that because those are systemic challenges weB次元官网网址檝e got.B次元官网网址�

Henry also said he is disappointed that support has not materialized as anticipated.

B次元官网网址淧artners that we were hoping would be there and invest more strategically in the ways that we set through Indigenous-led strategy havenB次元官网网址檛 done that,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淎nd my worry is that without those commitments in the near future, which we donB次元官网网址檛 have, how is Indigenous tourism going to resolve those issues. I see the gap widening, not getting better.

B次元官网网址淚t will still grow. But it will grow at a very, very nominal rate versus what it could grow had we been meeting the true visitor demand. And we canB次元官网网址檛 do that with the resources and the investments that we see today.B次元官网网址�

A positive note from the report, however, indicated that there were more than 2,750 entrepreneurs and organization that were part of the countryB次元官网网址檚 Indigenous tourism sector in 2023.

That figure has dramatically risen from nearly 1,900 entrepreneurs/organization two years earlier.

Henry attributes the increase to the work done by ITAC and reps from Indigenous provincial/territorial tourism organizations that have raised awareness about the importance of Indigenous tourism.

B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 the problem now,B次元官网网址� Henry said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e raised such strong support and expectations. And weB次元官网网址檝e seen a lot of new artists and smaller businesses come online and more festivals and events. ThereB次元官网网址檚 a number of new businesses that have formed in the last five, six, seven years.B次元官网网址�

But without some external funding, getting word out about these Indigenous business operators has proved challenging.

B次元官网网址淲e always thought we were going to have stable, predictable resources,B次元官网网址� Henry said. B次元官网网址淏ut weB次元官网网址檝e just never been able to achieve that.B次元官网网址�