Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), Vancouver, BC – The Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC) has worked with industry experts to provide easy to follow health and safety guidelines for Indigenous tourism operators across Canada.
“These guidelines are intended to allow each Indigenous tourism operator to create a plan that works best for their business, keeping in mind the dynamic cultural side of Indigenous tourism,” says Keith Henry, President and CEO of ITAC. “It is so important that we make these tools as accessible as possible, so that Indigenous tourism experiences are as safe as possible, assisting Indigenous businesses in their recovery from Covid-19 as visitors begin to travel again.”
Included in the downloadable PDF are practical tools including signage examples and a “frequently asked questions” document for team members. General operating guidelines are included for interacting with employees, guests and suppliers, as well as best practice protocols for accommodations, meetings, restaurants and food services, transportation, larger gatherings and outdoor adventures.
The over 60-page document also has a comprehensive resource section that provides links to provincial and territorial Indigenous tourism associations, and local public health authorities along with links to specific information regarding Covid-19 industry and business resources.
“Along with these guidelines, we encourage all our members to listen to the advice of their trusted health and tourism authorities within every province and territory. We can expect things to change as new information is shared on best practices within the tourism industry. We will keep updating the guide with important information so our Indigenous tourism operators can provide a safe and healthy environment for visitors and their employees.” says Henry.
More information on ITAC’s health and safety guidelines can be found here.
About the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada
The Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC) is the lead organization tasked with growing the Indigenous tourism industry across the country. Inspired by a vision for a thriving Indigenous tourism economy sharing authentic, memorable and enriching experiences, ITAC develops relationships with other groups and regions with similar mandates. By uniting the Indigenous tourism industry in Canada, ITAC works to enable collective support, product development, promotion and marketing of authentic Indigenous cultural tourism businesses in a respectful protocol. Prior to 2020, Indigenous tourism was outpacing Canadian tourism activity overall, and international demand for Indigenous experiences was at an all-time high. Due to COVID-19, ITAC recently released a report on the financial challenges facing Indigenous tourism operators and recommended stimulus solutions. As well, a 2020-2021 revised action plan focused on sustaining Indigenous tourism in the face of COVID-19 was released in March, which is now complemented by the 2020-2024 Recovery Strategy.
Media Contacts
Deirdre Campbell, Beattie Tartan
250-882-9199
Deirdre.Campbell@BeattieGroup.com
Keith Henry, CEO
Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada
778-388-5013
Keith@IndigenousTourism.ca
French Media Requests
Sebastien Desnoyers-Picard, Chief Marketing Officer
Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada
418-655-0210
Sebastien@IndigenousTourism.ca
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