Indigenous tourism is thriving in Canada—here’s why
Tourists can take a tour with Songhees Tours to paddle a replica Lək̓ʷəŋən canoe to explore the traditional lands and waters of the Indigenous Lekwungen people.
While traditional offerings like museums and wilderness remain popular, more unexpected experiences, like food and storytelling, have also proliferated. “We are redirecting the narrative that has been written for us.”
By Robin Catalano
November 26, 2025
Indigenous tourism is growing. The World Travel & Tourism Council projects that it will add $67 billion to the global travel economy by 2034. The world leader is Canada, where 1.8 million people identify as First Nations, Inuit, or Métis, the country’s three primary groups of native-born people. According to a report by the Conference Board of Canada, in 2023, Indigenous tourism contributed $1.2 billion in revenue, nearly twice that in 2017, and supported more than 50,000 jobs across the country.
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Paddle a replica Lək̓ʷəŋən canoe in the waters of Victoria Harbor, off Vancouver Island, while learning about the history of First Nations people.
Tourists can take a tour with Songhees Tours to paddle a replica Lək̓ʷəŋən canoe to explore the traditional lands and waters of the Indigenous Lekwungen people.
Photograph Courtesy Matt Shannon