September 30, 2019, Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), Vancouver, BC – For the second consecutive year, the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC) will join Destination Canada to showcase Canada’s Indigenous tourism sector at IFTM Top Resa; the world’s most prominent tourism and travel trade show for leisure, business, MICE and groups in the French language market.

Last year, at the 40th anniversary conference, IFTM Top Resa welcomed 34,000 attendees, including tourism professionals, industry buyers, travel journalists, digital influencers and tourism ministers, who engaged with 1,700 unique international exhibitors –from destination tourism offices and airlines companies to hotels and start-up firms.

“The French language market continues to be an important focus for our Quebec members, as well as our members and stakeholders across the country,” says ITAC’s fluently bilingual Director of Marketing, Sébastien Desnoyers Picard. “It’s an honour to return for a second year to represent Indigenous tourism in Canada and showcase our collection of authentic, memorable and enriching Indigenous experiences at such a prestigious tourism trade show.”

Working in collaboration with Destination Canada, ITAC enjoyed a successful inaugural year, connecting with buyers, influencers and media who were excited to learn about the diverse and rapidly-expanding Indigenous Tourism industry in Canada. Highlights from 2018, include:

  • Jonview Canada launched a new collection of Indigenous Canadian experiences, including publishing a booklet.
  • Christophe Migeon article in Figaro Mag (Christophe Migeon)  and Geo Magazine (Sébastien Desurmont) have introduced the French market to the quality and range of Indigenous experiences available.
  • ITAC has a new 12-page magazine that will be inserted in the Quotidien du Tourisme – a travel trade magazine for the French Market.

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. With Indigenous tourism out pacing Canadian tourism activity overall, and international demand for Indigenous experiences at an all-time high, ITAC recently updated its five-year plan. To view packages and experiences available visit IndigenousCanada.Travel. For more information on ITAC visit IndigenousTourism.ca

Media Contact:
Sébastien Desnoyers Picard,  ITAC Director of Marketing,

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