Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), Vancouver, BC – Pania Tyson-Nathan, Chief Executive, NZ Māori Tourism, will be speaking at the upcoming International Indigenous Tourism Conference (IITC), hosted by the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC) in Treaty 1 Territory and the Homeland of the Métis in Winnipeg, Manitoba, from March 8 – 10, 2023.
As a key contributor, participant and influencer within the tourism industry, Tyson-Nathan has seen first-hand the power of this year’s conference theme, “Adventure to Understanding”. Within her own work, the New Zealand Business Hall of Fame inductee has worked to create connection and understanding between Indigenous business owners, the private sector and the government. This work has helped ensure that domestic and international visitors in New Zealand have been able to appreciate the unique opportunities Māori Tourism offers to visitors and business owners alike.
“We’re excited about hearing from someone as experienced in tourism as Pania,” says Keith Henry, CEO and president ITAC. “Her passion for building bridges between Indigenous and non-Indigenous stakeholders, communities and government is something all of us can learn from as we all set out on our own journeys of reconciliation.”
The annual IITC will bring together delegates from the Canadian tourism industry, First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities, as well as representatives from global Indigenous tourism organizations for three days of inspiration and learning about Indigenous tourism issues and topics. For more information on the 2023 IITC, and to register, visit IndigenousTourismConference.com.