Jan. 26, 2017, Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), Vancouver, BC – The board of directors and management team of the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC) have outlined their 2017 priorities following a successful meeting in Calgary, AB.

Aboriginal leaders representing tourism organizations and partners from across Canada met at the Grey Eagle Resort & Casino this week to discuss plans for the upcoming year. After a review of the operational update from 2016 as the first year of the five-year strategic plan, The Path Forward, 2016-2021, the board found ITAC to be on target with the identified goals and objectives.

The board approved a partnership agreement with the Adventure Travel Trade Association, an association that has goals to increase awareness and engagement for Aboriginal tourism across Canada in a responsible manner that respects and showcases the Aboriginal people, culture, and territories.

On the heels of the fifth annual International Aboriginal Tourism Conference, held in Membertou, NS in December, the board is now looking toward the sixth annual conference, which will take place at the Grey Eagle Resort & Casino with the support of the Tsuut’ina Nation from Nov. 6 to 8, 2017. The event planning process is well underway and the Adventure Group have been confirmed as the event planners for this year’s conference.

Among the initiatives discussed throughout the session, the board and management team also planned for the upcoming Rendez-vous Canada tour and travel operators show in Calgary in May, as well as the new Aboriginal Market Readiness workshops, which will be delivered in Alberta and Nunavut later this year.

About the 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: 250-592-3838 or brian@tartangroup.ca
Keith Henry, ITAC: 604-639-4408 or k.henry@aboriginalcanada.ca

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