Aug. 8 2018, Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), Vancouver, BC – The Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC) has contracted the Conference Board of Canada to undertake research that will help inform ITAC’s national Indigenous tourism strategy for Canada.
The research project includes a voluntary, 10-minute online survey to be completed by Indigenous tourism entrepreneurs and business owners. The survey submission period will be open until Sept. 3, 2018 and all survey responses will be kept anonymous.
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ITAC’s vision is for Canada to have a thriving Indigenous tourism economy. Responses to the survey will help ITAC understand the impact, market readiness, and development needs of Indigenous tourism businesses in Canada. Additionally, this research will be used to measure growth in the Indigenous tourism sector at the midway point in ITAC’s Five Year Plan 2016-2021: A Path Forward.
“We are excited to work with the Conference Board of Canada to examine the current and potential opportunities that are available across the Indigenous tourism sector,” says Keith Henry, President & CEO of the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada. “This vital research is a key part of understanding how our five-year strategic plan is impacting and growing Indigenous tourism in Canada.”
The five-year strategic plan has targeted a $300 million increase in annual Canadian GDP from Indigenous tourism; 40,233 Indigenous tourism workers; and 50 new Indigenous tourism operators at export-ready status by 2021.
Results from the research will help guide ITAC’s ongoing efforts to build greater awareness, support, and programming for the Indigenous tourism sector in Canada. The findings will be unveiled during the International Indigenous Tourism Conference from Oct. 30-31, 2018 in Saskatoon, SK.
Over the next week, the Conference Board will be reaching out to Indigenous tourism businesses by email with an invitation and links to complete the online survey. If you are not contacted by August 15 and would like to participate, please contact Adam Fiser (project manager) at fiser@conferenceboard.ca.
About the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada
The Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC) works to improve the socio-economic condition of Indigenous peoples through the provisions of economic development advisory services, tourism conferences, capacity development training and workshops, industry research and information for Indigenous 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 Indigenous tourism industry in Canada and works to enable collective support, product development, promotion and marketing of authentic Indigenous cultural tourism businesses in a respectful protocol. The ITAC Board is made up of Indigenous tourism industry representatives from each of the provinces and territories. For more information, visit www.indigenoustourism.ca.
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Media contacts:
Deirdre Campbell, Beattie Tartan: 250-592-3838 or deirdre.campbell@onlybeattie.com
Keith Henry, ITAC: 778-388-5013 or keith@indigenoustourism.ca
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