Research summary
Indigenous tourism represents an interesting crossroads between the enhancement of Indigenous cultures and values and the desire to share knowledge with visitors about ancestral customs and lands.
In the context of tourism’s economic value, Dr. Caroline Desbiens, Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Heritage and Tourism, is analyzing how Indigenous tourism generates cultural value for the communities it makes visible and accessible. As a local development tool, tourism can enhance the value of places featured in lucrative recreational and travel networks. Desbiens and her research team are asking whether cultural tourism can serve as an overarching territorial project that generates positive effects for Indigenous governance as a whole. Their work will pave the way for new territorial, cultural and tourism development practices in partnership with Indigenous communities.