Scott Hayes, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter | [email protected]
National Geographic put Alberta on its annual "Best of the World" list of tourism destinations.
The magazine鈥檚 list, released in the last week of October, brought attention to the province鈥檚 especially breathtaking mountain scenes as well as its opportunities for Indigenous teachings about the land.
"These 25 destinations for 2023 are under the radar, ahead of the curve and ready for you to start exploring," stated Nat Geo that was written by its global editors and published on its website.
The list was divided into five categories: community, nature, culture, family and adventure.
鈥淓xperience how long-held traditions and contemporary perspectives intersect, with Indigenous tourism outfitters in Alberta, Canada,鈥� the article reads.
Alberta was placed into the community category, and the article linked it that delved into it being a top spot for slow travel.
That article celebrated the province鈥檚 natural wonders, including the Athabasca Glacier and its Indigenous sites such as Writing-on-Stone/脕铆s铆nai'pi, the UNESCO World Heritage site in the Milk River Valley.
鈥淏ut there are different perspectives to consider in this Canadian province, part of a rethinking about how Indigenous stories are told across all of North America,鈥� that article reads.
鈥淸Travellers] who seek us out want to reconnect and refocus,鈥� said Cree/Iroquois guide Brenda Holder in the article.
Other international destinations among the top five spots for slow travel in 2023 included Laos, Ghana and the Dodecanese Islands in Greece.
鈥淲e are honoured to be recognized by National Geographic and are excited for the opportunity it brings to further grow the Indigenous tourism industry in Alberta,鈥� said Shae Bird, CEO of Indigenous Tourism Alberta.
鈥淭his recognition will allow our members to be exposed to an international travel market, leading to more opportunities for each of them to share their culture, language and traditional land-based teachings.鈥�
