Tiohtià:ke (Montreal) – The Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC) is pleased to announce the fourth round of funding is being released to 136 Indigenous tourism businesses from across Canada who applied for funding of up to $25,000 from a $10 million investment from the Government of Canada through its Indigenous Tourism Fund’s Micro and Small Business Stream.
This funding program recognizes market readiness standards set by The Original Original Accreditation Program, considering factors such as resource availability, cash flow, marketing and community connections. Its primary objective is to provide support to Indigenous tourism operators, offering funding of up to $25,000 per business to enhance their operations across six crucial categories:
- Effective Community Engagement and Support
- Excellence in Visitor Experience
- Ensuring Health, Safety, and Comfort
- Practicing Sustainable Indigenous Tourism
- Excellence in Marketing and Visitor Services
- Demonstrating Business Acumen/Practices
“With the distribution of the fourth and final funding round, our second largest program release to date, for the Indigenous Tourism Fund’s Micro and Small Business Stream, we are reinforcing a crucial partnership in supporting Indigenous tourism businesses from coast to coast to coast. This funding is vital to helping Indigenous entrepreneurs and communities expand their authentic Indigenous tourism experiences, build sustainable businesses, and share our rich cultural heritage with visitors. By empowering small and medium Indigenous tourism enterprises, we are creating long-lasting economic opportunities to help Canada become the world leader in Indigenous tourism by 2030.”
– Keith Henry, President and CEO, ITAC
To view the successful applicants from round four, click here.
To learn more about The Original Original Accreditation Program click here.