Indigenous experiences have always been part of the visitor journey in Alberta — Indigenous Peoples were the original guides of this land, and we continue to welcome travellers today. In recent years, however, there have been transformative changes in the tourism sector.
Indigenous entrepreneurs have come together to support each other and create a vision and leadership for the future. Partners in the industry have recognized that Indigenous experiences make for better trips and are a differentiator in a hyper-competitive global industry. Indigenous tourism is now even a pillar in Alberta’s tourism strategy, something that has not happened in any other province.
So as the global industry convenes in Alberta for the conference, we stand proud of how the sector has grown into a global leader, and how much of an economic and social impact it’s having across the province. Now is the time to celebrate the positive impact tourism is having on Indigenous lives, families and communities by sharing Indigenous culture and worldviews, helping preserve and promote Indigenous languages, and offering a way for Indigenous youth to learn about and share their own culture. On their terms.
That’s not to say it’s always smooth sailing. Real challenges remain, and barriers to Indigenous entrepreneurs still exist. For this we will keep advocating for change. We need to work hard together to overcome these challenges. But If you catch me at IITC in the midst of hosting, networking and celebrating, I’ll probably be thinking about all the years of hard work, collaboration and dedication by so many people that brought us to this moment.
