The Indigenous tourism economy as seen by the federal Minister of Tourism

In recent months, Ottawa has made numerous announcements of support for Indigenous businesses, particularly in the tourism sector.

In an interview with Indigenous Spaces, the Minister of Tourism and Minister responsible for Economic Development in Canada for the regions of Quebec, Soraya Martinez Ferrada, wished to express a certain optimism regarding the future of Indigenous tourism and assured that the The aid provided by the government will contribute to what Ottawa calls economic reconciliation.

In fact, for Minister Soraya Martinez Ferrada, the aid allocated to tourism benefits the entire population, despite the fact that in some communities certain essential needs must be developed, whether access to education, access to health, access to basic servicesetc.

Economic development in certain regions – or, in any case, at the level of indigenous peoples – depends largely on the development of tourism.

The Liberal MP for Hochelaga says these financial contributions will be reinvested in communities by businesses and will lead to the creation of new businesses and new jobs, in addition to attracting revenue from elsewhere.

You have to start somewhere and you have to make sure […] that we increase the number of tourism products that we want to offerassures Ms. Martinez Ferrada, who succeeded Randy Boissonnault last July.

It will have a positive impact. I’m sure of that.

Challenges to overcome

However, indigenous economic and tourism development does not come without challenges, admits Soraya Martinez Ferrada.

In addition to the challenges some communities face regarding basic needs, they and their businesses – whether tourism-related or not – must overcome major obstacles, such as the housing crisis and the labor shortage.

Another challenge: ensuring that indigenous communities can develop their own businesses at their own pace, in their own waywhile having the same resources as other companies, such as access to venture capital.

It’s part of the issue of self-determination, and when we talk about “economic reconciliation,” that’s also what it means: giving these indigenous businesses access to the same [possibilités] that other companies may have.

Asked whether the long and expensive transportation to the communities of Nunavik constitutes a pitfall for tourism, the minister indicated that the question is much broader than that and that the problem is in fact generalized throughout the country.

Transportation, [c’est] the backbone of tourism in Canadajudges Soraya Martinez Ferrada.

She assures that she wants to work in concert with the Minister of Transport, Pablo Rodriguez, on this subject.

[Il y a] a long-term reflection on how we improve Canada’s competitiveness to ensure that tourists will continue to come, not only because they have a great experience, are well received, but also because it is a destination that is accessible to all.

Quebec, a good student

Ottawa says it has indigenous tourism at heart. In fact, the importance of indigenous tourism is such that it is one of the five pillars of the new Federal Tourism Growth Strategy.

Published in 2023, this new strategy places particular emphasis on the need to establish partnerships with Indigenous tourism organizations and Indigenous-owned businesses to ensure Indigenous tourism is Indigenous-led.

She thus recalls thatCanada’s GDP”,”text”:”Prior to the pandemic, Indigenous tourism was the fastest growing segment of the Canadian tourism market, showing significant gains in job creation and contribution to Canada’s GDP “}}”>Prior to the pandemic, Indigenous tourism was the fastest growing segment of the Canadian tourism market, showing significant gains in job creation and contribution to the GDP you Canada.

Soraya Martinez Ferrada is delighted with the incredible and impressive examples of tourism development in Canada and Quebec. According to her, more and more people seek tourist experiences, seek authenticitywhat they manage to find among indigenous communities.

However, the minister thinks that the character exceptional Aboriginal tourism is not only beneficial to tourists or to the economic development of Aboriginal people. Indigenous tourism would have a significant identity dimension.

[Le tourisme autochtone permet aux Autochtones] to develop pride in who they are. It helps bring new indigenous generations back into indigenous traditions and cultures. It’s very strong in terms of identity development.

And Quebec would be at the forefront of this development.

It is truly a province which has, in recent years, enormously developed its tourist offer, the promotion of the province and its regionsjudge Soraya Martinez Ferrada, who took the opportunity to salute the work of her provincial counterpart in the matter.

It is certain that Quebec is one of the provinces that finances development the most, particularly indigenous tourism.

In conclusion, Soraya Martinez Ferrada shared her own recommendation regarding indigenous tourism.

Moment Factory to visit the forests [le parcours Onhwa’ Lumina, NDLR]. I think it’s a visit for everyone.”,”text”:”What the Huron-Wendat community has done in Quebec is quite exceptional, especially what they did with Moment Factory to visit the forests [le parcours Onhwa’ Lumina, NDLR]. I think it’s a must-visit for everyone.”}}”>What the Huron-Wendat community has done in Quebec is quite exceptional, particularly what it has done with Moment Factory to visit the forests [le parcours Onhwa’ Lumina, NDLR]. I think it’s a visit for everyone.

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