Sept. 8th, 2016, Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), Vancouver, BC – The Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC) will be bringing seven national Aboriginal tourism partners overseas – the largest contingent of Aboriginal tourism businesses ever represented – as they join Destination Canada’s delegation at Showcase Canada Asia in Nanjing, China from Oct. 17 to 20, 2016.
Showcase Canada Asia brings Canadian suppliers together with more than 100 qualified tourism product buyers from mainland China, Taiwan and Hong Kong. The Destination Canada program is designed to help Canadian tourism operators with building their sales and business relationships from these important markets.
Joining ITAC will be Tundra North Tours, Northwest Territories; Great Spirit Circle Trail, Ontario; Ritchie Falls Resort, Ontario; Tourism Wendake, Quebec; Wanuskewin, Saskatchewan; Sea Wolf Adventures, British Columbia; and the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre, British Columbia.
“We are incredibly excited to have the opportunity to highlight the Aboriginal tourism experiences that are available across Canada to Chinese tourism partners,” says Keith Henry, CEO of the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada. “This is the first time a national Aboriginal tourism delegation is joining Destination Canada in China for their trade show and representing Aboriginal cultural and adventure experiences from across the country that are market-ready.”
“This is one of many strategies within the current ITAC five year plan 2016-2021 The Path Forward that ITAC and key partners such as Destination Canada are creating to support an increase in direct sales for Aboriginal tourism operators from across Canada to key international markets, “ concluded Henry.
The October event comes after the announcement that seven new Visa Application Centres will open in China. Until now, Visa Application Centres were only found in major Chinese cities, but the expansion of these centres will make it easier for Chinese travellers to make Canada their destination of choice. According to the Tourism Industry Association of Canada, Chinese visitation to Canada is up 23 per cent in the first six months of this year.
To learn more about ATAC, visit www.indigenoustourism.ca
About Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada
Originally formed as the Aboriginal Tourism Marketing Circle, in 2015 the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC) was formally established as a national non-profit Aboriginal tourism industry organization. Today, ITAC includes representation from 15 Aboriginal tourism industry representatives and organizations. Through a unified Aboriginal tourism industry voice, ITAC focuses on creating partnerships between associations, organizations, government departments and industry leaders from across Canada to support the growth of Aboriginal tourism in Canada. For more information, visit www.indigenoustourism.ca.
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Media contacts:
Brian Cant, Tartan Group: 250-592-3838, 250-888-8729 (cell) or brian@tartangroup.ca
Keith Henry, ITAC: 604-639-4408 or k.henry@aboriginalcanada.ca
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