b'INDIGENOUS TOURISMoff the land. Outdoor adventures are also quite popular. People want to go kayaking. They want to go walk on chal-lenging terrain. So included within that is wildlife viewing. They want to see the outdoors constantly, Henry says.This is similar to the preferences of Canadian tourists looking for authentic Indigenous experiences. According to ITACs 2024 Domestic Tourism Research survey, the immersive experiences that are of the most interest to survey respon-dents included:Attractions (48%)Food and beverage (48%)Accommodations (46%)Outdoors and adventures (42%)Events and performances (40%) Whale watching with Croisires Essipit in Qubec. All photos courtesy of ITACCultural tours (39%)Retail (34%)One of the companies witnessing the greater demandbrings into those communities is hugely important, and it also for Indigenous tourism is Tansi Tourism Solutions, a Mtisopens up skills development and employment opportunities for majority organization that works with Indigenous and non- younger people.Indigenous tourism business clients, regional and destina-tion marketing organizations, and economic developmentWith so much growing interest in Indigenous tourismboth agencies across Canada.in Canada and abroadthe Indigenous tourism industry is ripe for a major growth spurt that could reap huge economic It used to be everybody was searching for those big resortsdividends for Indigenous communities. The only question and looking for relaxation and pleasure. But now, post- that remains is whether the industrys development, and all pandemic, there seems to be a trend with more of the focusits myriad infrastructure needs, will grow in lockstep.on experiential travel, says Darcie Guarderas, director and client strategist for the company.Much of the demand for tourism is being driven by Baby Boomers who are retiring with access to disposable incomes. These people have the time to travel, and theyre looking"The TD Scholarship for tourism destinations that offer experiences to learn,for Indigenous Peoples Guarderas says. Thats where Indigenous tourism comeshas been instrumental towards my growth on an in, because there are so many things that people areacademic, professional, curious about, or they have unknowns about. They wantand most importantly, a to learn, and so theyre looking for these experiences,personal level."Blaise Arkle, 2023 Scholarship explains Guarderas. recipient, from the Red River Mtis community in ManitobaTourists, however, including Canadian ones, still face one of the biggest barriers to being able to enjoy Indigenous experiences in more remote regions of Canada: a lack of viable and affordable transportation infrastructure. If youTD is proud to help support students took airfares up into Nunavut or even northern Manitoba,from Indigenous communities through going up into Churchill, theres [just] one airline and thethe TD Scholarship for Indigenous airfares are outrageously expensive, Guarderas says. IfPeoples, managed by AFOA Canada, with you have a family of four, and you want to take your kids up25 scholarships available annually, each there to learn and do a polar bear experience the airfareworth up to $60,000 over four years.alone is going to cost you $8,000 to $10,000. Its part of our commitment to a more inclusive tomorrow.Guarderas adds that it is specifically in these remote regions of the country that the importance of tourismLearn more at TD.com/Indigenous. dollars cannot be overstated. Those tourism dollars that are spent in remote communities like Nunavut or northern Manitoba, dollar for dollar, create a higher number of jobs for the community than money spent on any other sector,The TD logo and other TD trademarks are the property of The Toronto-Dominion Bank or its subsidiaries.Guarderas says. The economic development that tourism Indigenous BUSINESS REPORT79'