Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), Vancouver, BC – The Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC) is pleased to welcome 1,332 members to its association as of March 31, 2024. ITAC proudly represents Indigenous-owned and controlled tourism businesses from across the country, including visitor ready, business ready, and export ready—all of which are market ready.
The 2024-25 membership program has seen a 29% membership growth. This is a record-setting year and continues to drive the association’s ultimate goal of returning Indigenous tourism to the peaks of GDP and employment seen in 2019. The association is actively working every day towards $1.9 billion of direct GDP contributions, 1,900 Indigenous tourism businesses, and more than 39,000 Indigenous tourism employees by 2030. ITAC will remain at the forefront as it strives to become the global leader in Indigenous tourism by 2030.
ITAC is not just building a strong foundation and strong provincial partnerships, but also actively promoting Canada as a premier Indigenous tourism destination. Our resilient Indigenous tourism sector is a key driver of economic growth and reconciliation efforts. We are committed to educating Canadians, various levels of government, and the tourism industry about the vital role of a thriving Indigenous tourism sector.
Building on the successes of the past, the 2024-25 Action Plan leads the Indigenous tourism industry towards a bright future for not just Indigenous tourism in Canada but for Indigenous communities across the country as well. ITAC’s mission is to provide leadership in developing and marketing authentic Indigenous tourism experiences through innovative partnerships.
Moreover, ITAC serves as a unified voice for the Indigenous tourism industry, advocating its growth to visitors, organizations, government departments, and industry leaders. We welcome any individual or organization interested in advancing Indigenous tourism in Canada to apply for ITAC membership. While the deadline for Voting Member status was April 15, 2024, the application process remains open year-round. This means that any person or organization can still apply at any time to enjoy the benefits of ITAC membership.