Aug. 30, 2016, Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), Vancouver, BC – The Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC), will be hosting the fifth International Aboriginal Tourism Conference (IATC) in Membertou, Nova Scotia, attracting national and international thought leaders intent on growing Indigenous tourism globally.

The three-day conference will be held at the Membertou Trade & Convention Centre on Dec. 12 to 14, 2016, and will bring together delegates from First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities, as well as representatives from global Indigenous tourism organizations. 

This year, the theme is, “Building Effective Partnerships for Indigenous Tourism,” and the conference will focus on strategies for building relationships and partnerships with non-government and government organizations, tourism marketing organizations, other tourism operators, and industry leaders.

The IATC agenda will offer workshops on Aboriginal tourism experience development, share Aboriginal tourism industry research and marketing strategies, and present key strategies to support growing local capacity for First Nations communities. In addition to supporting Atlantic tourism businesses through the conference, ITAC intends to provide attendees with multiple techniques to find beneficial and collaborative partnerships, with the ultimate goal of building capacity both nationally across Canada, broadening global networks, and sharing of best practices.

Confirmed conference partners include Destination Canada, Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC), Parks Canada, and Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA).  Other event supporters include the World Indigenous Tourism Alliance, Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC), Adventure Travel Trade Association and other key tourism industry players confirming support in the coming weeks. This year’s speakers include representatives from the Tourism Industry Association of Nova Scotia; Destination Canada; Tourism HR Canada; the Legacy Tourism Group; and Keith Henry, the CEO of ITAC. Invited Indigenous groups globally include representatives from the US, New Zealand, Canada, and Australia.

For more information on the 2016 International Aboriginal Tourism Conference, check out iatc-canada.ca. 

About Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada

Originally formed as the Aboriginal Tourism Marketing Circle, in 2015 the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC) was formally established as a national non-profit Aboriginal tourism industry organization. Today, ITAC includes representation from 15 Aboriginal tourism industry representatives and organizations. Through a unified Aboriginal tourism industry voice, ITAC focuses on creating partnerships between associations, organizations, government departments and industry leaders from across Canada to support the growth of Aboriginal tourism in Canada. For more information, visit www.indigenoustourism.ca. 

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Media contacts:

Brian Cant, Tartan Group: 250-592-3838, 250-888-8729 (cell) or brian@tartangroup.ca

Keith Henry, ITAC: 604-639-4408 or k.henry@aboriginalcanada.ca

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