However, a dispute with China, wildfires, and a lack of personnel will make the work difficult.
According to tour leader Jack Rivers, “you can learn about nature, indigenous culture, and our history.”
He believes that more individuals should consider taking a vacation in Canada for these three reasons.
On Manitoulin Island in Ontario, Mr. Rivers, an Indigenous person, takes guided excursions in the Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory.
The location is pristine, with thick trees around Lake Huron’s shore.
The walking tours are offered by Wiikwemkoong Tourism, an indigenous travel agency that educates tourists about the region and indigenous heritage.
Although he acknowledges that it is not for everyone, Mr. Rivers believes his job is “great.” He adds that “it depends on people working weekends and being away from their family,” stating that it is not an 8–4 job.
As a result, Wikwemikong Tourism has had trouble keeping employees, an issue that is mirrored in the tourism industry across Canada, which is still reportedly lacking hundreds of thousands of jobs.
If the Canadian government’s new initiative to boost tourism is successful, these personnel shortages will need to be solved.
The initiative, led by the government organization Destination Canada, comes as the country’s tourism sector has yet to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and hit its 2019 peak of 22 million visitors. The total was 18.3 last year.
