Algonquin Territory (Ottawa, ON), February 4, 2019 – Keith Henry, President and CEO of the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC) took part in several meetings, held by the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC), highlighting public policy challenges predicted to inhibit growth in the tourism sector in Canada, in Ottawa. The series of meetings, titled, ‘Advocacy Days 2019 – Unlocking Tourism’s Potential’, included stakeholders from across Canada, as well as parliamentarians.

The meetings are set as the country’s parliamentarians enter their last session before the 2019 federal election.

Henry, took part in the following sessions:

  • Parliamentary Tourism Caucus
  • Tourism HR Canada – Labour Market Update
  • An MP group meeting
  • The Tourism Hill Day Reception

According to the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC), their members believe public policy challenges inhibiting growth lay in four key areas: Labour, Access, Cost Competitiveness and Marketing Funding.

Currently, the UNWTO ranks Canada 17th in overall visitation globally. This is a drop from 2000 when Canada ranked eighth. As Canada’s largest service export, tourism represents $21.3Billion in export revenue, $41.2B in GDP, $32B in the meetings and conventions sector alone, and employs 1.8 million Canadians. However, the sector’s current momentum is not sustainable if public policy challenges preventing the sector from capitalizing on opportunities, are not addressed.

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.

ITAC also just released their brand-new experience guide, detailing Indigenous experiences across Canada, in which visitors can learn about the values of the respect, honour and integrity that guides our communities while discovering the traditional territories, history, people and culture that has been a part of our country for centuries. To down load the full 2018/19 Guide to Indigenous Tourism in Canada go to: https://indigenoustourism.ca/indigenous-tourism-experience-guide/. 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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Contacts:
Deirdre Campbell, Beattie Tartan
(250) 592-3838 or Cell: (250) 882-9199 or deirdre.campbell@onlybeattie.com

Keith Henry, Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada
(604) 639-4408 or keith@indigenoustourism.ca

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