Sept. 15, 2017, Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), Vancouver, BC – Early-bird registration has been extended to Sept 30, 2017, for the 2017 International Aboriginal Tourism Conference (IATC), co-hosted in partnership with Tsuut’ina Nation at the Grey Eagle Resort near Calgary, Alberta, on Treaty 7 Territory.
Registration and agenda information for the two-day conference is available via www.IATC-Canada.ca. Early-bird pricing begins at $395 Cdn for ITAC member businesses, and $495 for non-members.
The sixth annual conference will be held from Nov. 7 – 8, 2017, and will bring together Indigenous and non-Indigenous delegates from all over the world who are interested in developing, supporting and partnering with Indigenous tourism industry organizations. A detailed agenda is available via www.iatc-canada.ca/aboriginal-tourism-conference-agenda, with tracks that cover leadership, product development, partnerships, marketing, and culminate with a celebration at the annual Aboriginal Tourism Awards & Gala Dinner on November 8, 2017.
This year, the theme is, “Raising our Voices: Building economy through Indigenous tourism and community stories”. Indigenous tourism has the power to change perspectives, preserve culture, language, and community and provide our relatives with a platform to be the leading voice in reclaiming our space in history — both ancient and modern. Tourism can also be a key element of Indigenous economic development for Indigenous communities, when led by the community itself. ITAC recognizes and supports Indigenous communities and entrepreneurs to lead the way in telling the stories of their people and land to visitors, and the IATC is one way ITAC brings tourism to the forefront of economic development portfolios.
IATC is an annual conference bringing together people interested and invested in creating and contributing towards the Indigenous tourism industry. The IATC agenda will offer workshops on Indigenous tourism experience development, share Indigenous tourism industry research and marketing strategies, and present key strategies to support growing local capacity for Indigenous economic development.
Along with Tsuut’ina Nation as the co-host, confirmed event partners include Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC), Destination Canada, Parks Canada and the Government of Alberta. Other event sponsors include the Calgary Stampede, Calgary Tourism, Edmonton Tourism and Travel Alberta, along with support and partnerships with the World Indigenous Tourism Alliance, Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC), and the Adventure Travel Trade Association.
For more information on the 2017 International Aboriginal Tourism Conference, check out www.IATC-Canada.ca.
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. 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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