Six national Aboriginal tourism partners joined events in China

Oct. 20, 2016, Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), Vancouver, BC – The Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC) joined Destination Canada’s delegation at Showcase Canada Asia in Nanjing, China— leading the first contingent of Aboriginal tourism businesses to be represented to the Asian market through a joint partnership.

ATAC, in collaboration with Destination Canada, brought six national Aboriginal tourism partners overseas to meet with more than 130 qualified tourism product buyers from mainland China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. Joining ITAC were Tundra North Tours, Northwest Territories; Great Spirit Circle Trail, Ontario; Tourism Wendake, Quebec; Wanuskewin Heritage Park, Saskatchewan; Sea Wolf Adventures, British Columbia; and the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre, British Columbia.

“We are tremendously proud of the amazing Aboriginal tourism partners and businesses that participated in this showcase,” says Keith Henry, CEO of the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada. “This trip provided our members with the opportunity to exhibit Aboriginal experiences from across Canada.”

Through a memorandum of understanding with Destination Canada that was signed in 2015, ITAC was able to capitalize on this event and emphasize Aboriginal tourism in a growing international market. China is becoming one of Canada’s top overseas markets, with the number of Chinese visitors to Canada growing every year. The Chinese inbound market to Canada has increased by 20 percent between August 2015 and August 2016. More than 500,000 visitors from China travelled to Canada in 2016, spending over $1.3 billion. This spending is forecasted to grow to more than $1.5 billion in 2017.

“The Chinese buyers have been excited to learn about Aboriginal tourism and culture and to meet the companies here with ATAC,” says Dené Sinclair, director of marketing for the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada. “The ancient culture in China recognizes another ancient culture, and buyers tell us their clients are very interested in meeting with and learning from the original people in Canada.”

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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