Indigenous Tourism Ontario says they had a banner summer

This week marks the first full week of fall and as the cooler weather starts to wing through our region, it’s another sad reminder that summer tourism has come to a close.

Kevin Eshkawkogan is the president and CEO of Indigenous Tourism Ontario and he told CTV News that businesses are busier than they’ve ever been.

According to Eshkawkogan’s numbers, they’ve surpassed 2019 pre-COVID numbers and 2024 was just about everything he expected.

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Eshkawkogan said the organization has done the economic research and they’re happy to be able to return to peak levels.

“A lot of people want to take (in) Indigenous tourism because it’s a great opportunity to learn about a lot of different things in Canada, that we as Canadians or even we as First Nations people and especially as international travellers would never get to learn otherwise,” he said.

The growth in the sector is only good news and will allow the industry to look at other fronts.

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Bannock and a pheasant are being prepared around a fire according to First Nation traditions in this undated photo. (Indigenous Tourism Ontario)Eshkawkogan said they are already looking toward next year where they’re looking to focus on a lot of new feast opportunities and culinary work in a bid to showcase Indigenous chefs and their talents to the world.