The annual International Indigenous Tourism Conference, bringing together global Indigenous communities and entrepreneurs in Winnipeg, Manitoba, to be postponed.
April 7, 2020, Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), Vancouver, BC – The 2020 International Indigenous Tourism Conference (IITC) which was to be hosted in Treaty 1 Territory and the Homeland of the Métis in Winnipeg, Manitoba, from September 29 – October 1, 2020, has been postponed temporarily as the world continues to be impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
IITC brings people together in the spirit of learning and inspiration. As the biggest Indigenous tourism conference in the world, it contributes greatly toward the advancement of the Indigenous tourism industry and will be even more essential once people can begin travelling again.
Organized annually by the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC), the successful event has been delivered in partnership with various regional Indigenous tourism organizations for the past eight years. It was previously held in Quebec, Nova Scotia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and British Columbia.
“Each year ITAC’s team goes to extreme lengths to prepare for IITC, which attracts over 700 delegates, “ says Keith Henry, CEO and President of ITAC. “Out of respect for our co-hosts and steering committee members, Manitoba Indigenous Tourism Association, Travel Manitoba and Tourism Winnipeg, we can not give this conference the attention it deserves until we are through this global crisis.”
While plans have been put on hold, the foundation for the event has been set and, when the time is right, new dates will be established and event planning and management will begin once again.
“I encourage Indigenous tourism operators and friends of Indigenous tourism to keep IITC in mind for 2020 or 2021. The Indigenous tourism industry and community will need to come together more than ever, when the time is right, to begin working on recovery,” says Henry.
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Updates and information on IITC 2020 may be found here.