Aug. 9, 2017, Mi’kmaq Territory (Millbrook First Nation, Nova Scotia) – The Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC) has established the Indigenous Tourism Working Group of Nova Scotia as part of their five-year plan to set up provincial and territorial organizations that drive progress and leadership in Indigenous tourism.
The International Aboriginal Tourism Conference (IATC) held last December in Membertou, Nova Scotia, was incredibly successful; the event motivated ITAC to make aggressive moves in their effort to build Indigenous tourism in Atlantic Canada.
“Visitors to Atlantic Canada are excited to explore our coast and experience the rich landscapes that we’re proud to call home,” says Robert Bernard, ITAC board chair. “This is Nova Scotia’s time to showcase its unique and developing tourism industry. The new Nova Scotia Working Group will provide guidance and direction on the long-term success of Indigenous tourism in Nova Scotia.”
Tourism in Nova Scotia is on the rise, and interest in Indigenous culture and heritage is greater than ever. Provincial industry organizations such as work being undertaken by the Indigenous Tourism Working Group of Nova Scotia will drive new strategies required to meet growing international and domestic visitor demands.
“I am very thankful for the volunteerism and dedication by our Indigenous tourism industry representatives who are putting time and passion into building our industry in Nova Scotia,” says Keith Henry, president & CEO of the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada. “There is visitor demand, but we need to better coordinate marketing, experience development, and training for Nova Scotia and Atlantic Canada to ensure future success. This is another important step towards achieving our objectives.”
With support from Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) and the Government of Canada, ATAC’s goal as a non-profit is to grow and support a sustainable, culturally-rich Aboriginal tourism industry across Canada, sharing the experiences available to visitors from around the world.
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. For more information, visit www.indigenoustourism.ca.
Social media channels:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/AboriginalCAN/
Twitter: @AboriginalCAN
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Media contacts:
Brian Cant, Beattie Tartan: 250-592-3838 or brian@tartangroup.ca
Keith Henry, ITAC: 604-639-4408 or k.henry@aboriginalcanada.ca
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