The North Country Tourist Association (NCTA) was organized in 1925 by J.L. Thomas for the purpose of offering tours to the "North Country" of Manitoba. As the first company to organize such tours, the NCTA believed that the North was "destined to become a great Mecca for tourists from all parts of the American continent."

The first expidition organized by Thomas took prominent political leaders and businessmen from Manitoba and Saskatchewan to Port Nelson (now York Factory). Thomas used the expedition to enlist support for the completion of the Hudson's Bay Railway. The NCTA ran into problems, however, when it wasn't ceased to exist after this year.