Intrepid Travel partners with Talaysay Tours, unveils new Indigenous tourism research

Intrepid Travel has announced a new long-term partnership with Talaysay Tours, an Indigenous-owned tourism company in British Columbia, along with the addition of a Huron-Wendat experience in Wendake.

Together, these additions will bring Indigenous-led experiences to 75% of Intrepid’s Canadian itineraries in 2027 and build on the company’s CA$500,000 commitment over five years to support Indigenous tourism in Canada.

As well, new research — commissioned by Intrepid Travel and conducted by Angus Reid – found that over half (57%) of Canadians are interested in participating in an Indigenous-led tourism experience the next time they travel within Canada, yet fewer than one in five (18%) have ever done so.

That gap is striking given how much Canadians already travel at home. Nearly nine in 10 (89%) have taken a leisure trip within Canada and nearly three-quarters (73%) have participated in activities or experiences while travelling domestically. Yet Indigenous-led tourism remains outside the experience of most Canadian travellers.

The research suggests the challenge is not simply generating interest. Many Canadians are open to Indigenous-led tourism, but they are not consistently encountering these experiences while planning a trip, and many do not feel confident about where to start.

The new research found that Canadians are interested, but Indigenous-led experiences are not always making it into their trip planning. Among Canadians who have not participated, about four in 10 (42%) say they have not come across an Indigenous-led experience while planning a trip, while three in 10 (30%) do not know where to find one.

Nearly one-quarter (24%) are unsure which experiences are genuinely Indigenous-owned or led. The findings point to an important distinction between general awareness of Indigenous tourism and being able to find an experience when someone is actively deciding where to go and what to do. For the travel industry, that creates an opportunity to make Indigenous-led tourism a more visible part of the trips Canadians are already considering.

It noted that for many travellers, knowing how to participate matters as much as knowing where to look. More than half (54%) of Canadians are not confident they know how to find and choose an Indigenous-led tourism experience, while nearly two-thirds (63%) say they do not know enough about Indigenous tourism to know where to begin. More than four in 10 (42%) worry about unintentionally being disrespectful.

That uncertainty is particularly notable because the research points to relatively little outright rejection. Among Canadians who have not participated, only 15% say they do not think Indigenous-led experiences would interest them, while just 8% cite expense as a barrier.

Canadians see value in Indigenous-led tourism when it is part of the travel experience. Seven in 10 (71%) say they would enjoy learning about Indigenous cultures while travelling, while more than four in 10 (43%) say they would be more likely to choose a Canadian trip that includes an Indigenous-led tourism experience. Around two-thirds (67%) believe Indigenous-led tourism is something more Canadians should experience.

Learning is also a strong motivator. Nearly half (48%) identify learning about Indigenous cultures and traditions among their top three reasons for participating, while 38% select learning directly from Indigenous knowledge holders.

Christian Wolters, President of Intrepid Travel Canada, observed that: “Canadians are telling us they are interested in Indigenous-led tourism, but many simply do not know where to begin.”

And Wolters continued: “For the travel industry, that means working directly with Indigenous-owned and led tourism businesses and making their experiences a more visible part of the trips travellers are already considering.”

The research comes as Intrepid expands Indigenous-led experiences across its Canadian trips, including a new direct partnership with Talaysay Tours, an Indigenous-owned tourism company offering land-based, Indigenous-led experiences across British Columbia.

Beginning in 2027, travellers on Intrepid’s Grand Canadian Rockies itinerary will take part in We Are the Land, a 120-minute guided trail experience at Lost Lake in Whistler, created and led by Talaysay Tours exclusively for Intrepid Travel. The experience brings together Indigenous storytelling, cultural ecology, land stewardship and salmon knowledge, and concludes with a tea ceremony.

Talaysay Campo, Co-Owner of Talaysay Tours, said: “We are the original stewards of these lands and waters, and to our people, the land is everything – it is our culture, our identity, our history and our way of life. I’m honoured to share these teachings through Talaysay Tours and, together with Intrepid Travel, introduce We Are The Land, in Skwikw. Through this experience, travellers will walk the land with us, discover Indigenous knowledge and learn about the living relationships that have connected our people to these mountains since time immemorial.”

Said Wolters: “We’re committed to Indigenous-led tourism. This partnership with Talaysay Tours is an important step in putting that commitment into practice. It reflects how we want to grow this work in Canada: through thoughtful experiences shaped by our partners.”

Intrepid is also adding a Huron-Wendat experience in Wendake to its Eastern Canada by Rail trip in 2027, including a guided visit to the museum and Huron-Wendat longhouse at the Huron Traditional Site.

Together, the Talaysay Tours and Wendake additions will bring Indigenous-led experiences to 75% of Intrepid’s Canadian trips in 2027, an important milestone toward the company’s longer-term goal of integrating Indigenous-led experiences across all of its Canadian itineraries. The work builds on Intrepid’s CA$500,000 commitment over five years to support the growth and promotion of Indigenous tourism in Canada.

Lauren Everest, Senior Manager, Communications & Membership at Tourism Whistler says “Whistler is fortunate to be home to the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre, a flagship example of Indigenous-led tourism in Canada and a place where the Squamish Nation and Lil’wat Nation share and celebrate their distinct cultures with visitors from around the world. We encourage visitors to make the SLCC part of their Whistler experience and deepen their understanding of the peoples who have called these lands home since time immemorial. We’re pleased to see Intrepid Travel showcasing Indigenous-led tourism and creating more opportunities for travellers to engage with these important experiences.”

For travel advisors and tour operators, the findings reinforce the importance of increasing the visibility of Indigenous-led experiences throughout the travel planning journey and building long-term partnerships with Indigenous-owned tourism businesses.