Travel Alberta is focusing on deeper collaboration with Indigenous communities and local partners to develop authentic new tourism offerings in the Wood Buffalo region.
The goal is to draw higher-spending visitors and strengthen the local tourism economy.
Indigenous-led tourism remains a key provincial priority for the agency.
Since 2021, Travel Alberta has partnered closely with Indigenous Tourism Alberta to back Indigenous entrepreneurs and grow visitor experiences owned and operated by First Nations, Métis, and Inuit people.
According to Travel Alberta, effective Indigenous tourism thrives when built on foundations of trust and mutual respect. Crucially, Indigenous operators must lead in deciding how their cultures, stories, and lands are shared with guests.
The agency has committed significant funding to the sector, investing $8.85 million in Indigenous Tourism Alberta since 2021.
Beyond economics, the agency highlights that Indigenous tourism delivers broader benefits, including cultural preservation, community strengthening, and pathways for youth to reconnect with language, traditions, and ancestral knowledge.
The agency says its work with Indigenous Tourism Alberta is intended to support Indigenous operators as they develop businesses and experiences while maintaining control over how their cultures and stories are shared with visitors.
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