Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), (Vancouver, BC) – The Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC) is facing internal budget cuts come September 2024. Unless additional funding is secured by September 1st, the association will need to implement significant funding cuts to provincial and territorial Indigenous tourism organizations, as well as to our ITAC’s administration and human resource budgets, to maintain a balanced budget by the fiscal year ending March 31st, 2025.
Despite these reductions, we are committed to ensuring the most critical services remain available. ITAC’s development and marketing programs will continue as long as funding permits.
The association remains fully committed to supporting its 1,332 members from coast to coast. You are our foremost priority, and we are dedicated to maintaining ITAC’s solvency for your benefit. To navigate these financial challenges, the association will implement strategic financial adjustments to preserve ITAC’s stability and ensure that it continues to serve its membership.
Commitment to ITAC Members
ITAC remains dedicated to providing the resources and national voice that its members rely on. The association’s leadership, advocacy efforts, and pressure on the federal government and partners to advance Indigenous tourism will persist more than ever. The association is elevating its advocacy efforts to secure additional funding and support, actively engaging with provincial, territorial, and industry partners and policymakers to highlight the importance of ITAC’s programs and services.
How You Can Support ITAC
The association greatly appreciates your ongoing support and invites you to join ITAC in its efforts to secure sustainable funding and continue growing Indigenous tourism, one of the fastest-growing segments of the tourism industry. Here are a few ways you can support ITAC:
- Complete the Member Template Letter: Complete the provided template here showing your support for ITAC.
- Sign Up for the Indigenous Tourism Destination Fund (ITDF) : Contribute to the ITDF to the growth of the Indigenous tourism industry.
- Register for the 2025 International Indigenous Tourism Conference (#2025IITC): Register now for the world’s largest Indigenous tourism conference.
ITAC understands the gravity of the situation and its impact on Indigenous tourism in Canada. The association remains open to all ideas and is doing everything possible to secure a stable and prosperous future for Indigenous tourism in Canada.
Thank you for your continued support.