The Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC) recently held its annual International Indigenous Tourism Conference (IITC), bringing 1,000 global delegates to Ottawa, Ont.
Keith Henry, president and CEO of the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada, shares the vision to make Canada a world leader in tourism by 2030 at the International Indigenous Tourism Conference held in Ottawa. Photo by Simon Ratcliffe.
The conference ran from February 26-28 at the Shaw Centre on Algonquin Anishinabeg Territory in Ottawa, Ont. This year’s theme, “Where Nations Meet,” saw Indigenous operators, funding partners and industry supporters join a focused conversation on how the global Indigenous tourism sector will continue to flourish.
Major announcements are anticipated to roll out from Canada’s minister of tourism as well as major tourism brands in the near future. “Ottawa Tourism is proud to be welcoming the 2024 International Indigenous Tourism Conference, the world’s largest Indigenous tourism business event. This is a great time to showcase our city’s and neighbouring communities’ Indigenous tourism operators, performers, artists, and storytellers,” says Michael Crockatt, president and CEO of Ottawa Tourism.
“We believe in ITAC’s vision, that tourism is Reconciliation in action, because tourism is not only an economic driver for communities and for individuals, but also because it is entirely built around person-to-person experiences. We know that through the connections and collaboration that will happen here this week, our industry has the capacity to really make a difference in this space, to bolster even more meaningful and authentic Indigenous experiences across Canada and the world, including in our very own city.”
The International Indigenous Tourism Conference welcomed 1,000 international delegates to Ottawa with a Grand Entry on February 27. Photo by Simon Ratcliffe.
The keynote address, led by Keith Henry entitled “ITAC Keynote: Vision 2030,” highlighted the work ITAC has undertaken over the past year—with a focus on marketing, development, leadership and partnerships—to make Canada the world leader in Indigenous tourism by 2030.
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