Acceptance of Application Submissions to Begin June 1st, 2017
May 19th, 2017, Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), Vancouver, BC – The Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC) is putting forward the call for applications through their 2017 Provincial/Territorial Aboriginal Tourism Association Funding Program, designed to strengthen the development of the Aboriginal tourism industry across Canada.
To increase revenues, employment growth, and the number of Aboriginal tourism businesses in the industry, ITAC will be offering funding to provinces and territories that apply for support in building and strengthening an industry-led, not-for-profit Aboriginal tourism association. Funding applications may be submitted from June 1 to 30, 2017 by completing the appropriate application form available on the ITAC Corporate website: www.indigenoustourism.ca/corporate/pt-funding
The new funding program, supported by Indigenous & Northern Affairs Canada, asks Aboriginal representatives from Canadian provinces and territories who do not already have established not-for-profit Aboriginal tourism organizations to submit a formal request for support of up to $65,000 that may be awarded per province or territory. Representatives must specifically demonstrate how their proposal supports the establishment of a sustainable Aboriginal tourism association. Provinces and territories with an established Aboriginal tourism association are also invited to apply and must indicate how their proposed investments directly support ATAC’s five-year goals to increase Aboriginal tourism revenue, employment, and number of businesses.
“Support from Aboriginal leaders and entrepreneurs will play a key role in establishing and sustaining provincial and territorial Aboriginal tourism associations,” says Keith Henry, President & CEO of the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada. “We urge Aboriginal representatives to apply for funding within the June timeframe.”
Applicants will be informed if they have been selected by the end of July, 2017. Applicants should be prepared to demonstrate the planning they’ve done and the feasibility of their proposed project or program, explaining how they plan to achieve the deliverables detailed in their proposal with the funding they’ve requested and in the timeframe they have proposed. Funded services and programs will have to be completed by March 31, 2018, and finalized with the submission of a Project Report due April 30, 2018.
About the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada
The Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC) works to improve the socio-economic condition of Aboriginal people through the provisions of economic development advisory services, tourism conferences, capacity development training and workshops, industry research and information for Aboriginal tourism operators and communities within the 13 regions; 10 provinces and three territories of Canada. ITAC develops relationships with other groups and regions with similar mandates, uniting the Aboriginal tourism industry in Canada and works to enable collective support, product development, promotion and marketing of authentic Aboriginal cultural tourism businesses in a respectful protocol. The ITAC Board is made up of Aboriginal tourism industry representatives from each of the provinces and territories. For more information, visit www.indigenoustourism.ca.
-30-
Media contacts:
Brian Cant, Tartan: 250-592-3838 or brian@tartangroup.ca
Keith Henry, ITAC: 604-639-4408 or k.henry@aboriginalcanada.ca
[su_button url=”https://indigenoustourism.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/ATAC-Announces-2017-Provincial-Territorial-Aboriginal-Tourism-Association-Funding-Program.pdf” target=”blank” style=”flat” background=”#323232″ size=”5″ radius=”10″]Download this page as a PDF[/su_button]