Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), (Vancouver, BC) – The Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC) is pleased to share its second yearly report on the Indigenous Tourism Destination Fund (ITDF). The ITDF has been established to allow businesses and individuals to take real action towards reconciliation in Canada through their support for the growth of the Indigenous tourism industry. Administered by ITAC, the fund  is used to invest in infrastructure, human resources and development, destination development, and marketing projects benefitting communities across the country.

Through the ITDF, partner businesses pass a fee per transaction on to their customers. Those contributions are then passed to ITAC and used to fund investments that support the growth of Indigenous tourism in Canada. As the list of partners grows, the ITDF will play a vital role in funding the investments required to achieve the 2030 targets as well as the ambitious goals set forth in the Federal Tourism Growth Strategy.

Supporting the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action #92, ITDF contributions will provide direct support to provincial and territorial Indigenous tourism organizations through investments to develop and enhance Indigenous tourism experiences. These investments not only stimulate economic growth, but also foster cultural preservation and revitalization. By partnering with ITAC, businesses can support reconciliation and help to create meaningful and sustainable economic opportunities for Indigenous communities. 

ITDF Drives the 2030 Vision 

ITAC’s vision for 2030 is for the Indigenous tourism industry to contribute $6 billion annually to Canada’s gross domestic product (GDP) — making Canada the world leader in Indigenous tourism. To make that vision a reality, the Indigenous tourism industry needs to grow substantially in both the number of businesses and the number of industry employees. 

  • 2,700 Indigenous owned and operated tourism businesses (up from 1,900 in 2019) 
  • 60,000 jobs in Indigenous tourism (up from 39,000 in 2019) 
  • $6 billion in contributions to Canada’s GDP (up from $1.9 billion in 2019)

In its second year, the ITDF saw actual funding reaching $305,360. These funds, allocated through provincial and territorial partnerships, facilitated development and direct contribution support across various initiatives.

The ITDF has helped advance crucial projects, such as The Original Original Accreditation Program, as well as provincial and territorial Indigenous tourism organizations. Additionally, it played a critical role in progressing towards ITAC’s Vision 2030 targets.

ITAC appreciates the remarkable contributions our partners have made towards this fund; however, the ITDF fell short of its annual goals due to a limited number of corporate partners engaging with the fund. ITAC recognizes that fostering these vital partnerships is essential for achieving the ITDF’s objectives and advancing the fund’s targets.