The Indigenous Tourism Affiliation of Canada is near insolvency and the trade is prone to collapse

While the 2021 federal budget includes historical restoration investments for national tourism and indigenous communities, indigenous tourism has been completely neglected in both categories

COAST SALISH TERRITORY, VANCOUVER, BC, April 27, 2021 / CNW / – Budget 2021: A Restoration Plan for Jobs, Growth, and Resilience, released last week, suggests federal investments have been made to rebuild and restore the tourism industry, as well as indigenous communities. However, it remains unclear how the indigenous tourism sector will be specifically supported at a critical time for its survival.

“There is a discrepancy between the government and saying it invests in indigenous tourism compared to funding solutions that we and the industry actually have access to,” says Keith Henry, President and CEO of the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC). “Regardless of the ITAC’s operational budget, we need to see one more item in the federal budget that recognizes indigenous tourism as a separate sector within the overall tourism industry, allocating and managing dedicated financial support for recreation to the industry and business owners Indigenous Directed Solution. This is the most effective way to directly support indigenous tourism companies that are barely waiting for tourism to recover. “

At the moment, it remains extremely vague whether the proposed allocations will be further broken down to provide direct support to indigenous tourism companies previously promised. It is clear that past national efforts through government-led aid programs or established banking institutions have been ineffective and inaccessible to indigenous tourism businesses and that government officials do not listen to the needs of the indigenous tourism industry.

ITAC shared theirs Strategic recovery plan (($ 50 million) calling for a four-year commitment to ensure the stability of the sector as well as its COVID-19 Second wave response (($ 18.3 million for emergency aid) proposals with their federal associations several times in the last few months. The organization was shocked to find that, despite their best efforts and positive discussions with Indigenous Services Canada, the agency was only recommending it $ 2.4 million ITAC – a 20% year-over-year reduction in core funding – and only promised one year of support. Without this targeted funding from $ 68.3 million Due to the reduced operating budget, ITAC will not be able to meet its contractual obligations to directly support its members, provincial and territorial partners, as well as national programs, and will not be able to lead the industry to recovery. The organization advocates that the federal government commit to long-term funding and solutions that protect the jobs and businesses of the indigenous people in the long term.

Several elected MPs have already spoken out in favor of ITAC and voiced concerns in the House of Commons that indigenous tourism companies have been abandoned in the 2021 budget:

• “Are you (the government) going to monitor the thousands of indigenous jobs that are of vital importance … and adequately fund this organization so that they can be part of the critical recovery in the tourism sector, the hardest hit sector in our country?” asked Gord Johns, NDP MP, about this Video.
• “They (indigenous tourism companies) have been asking this government for over a year to come up with a plan to get a feel for when they will be able to do this (welcomes visitors back) and how they are going to be able to do it this government ignored them for over a year. The prime minister promised them over a year ago that there would be a plan for them and that promise was not kept, “PC member Blake Richards told Parliament in this Video.

“ITAC’s programs are far more effective than government-run programs because we know and understand the realities of the community, speak the same language, and connect with members where they are comfortable. ITAC offers a more human approach with no barriers and timeliness and urgency that is lacking in traditional approaches, “shares Henry.

Henry also points to an apparent lack of cultural understanding on the part of officials. Applications for aid programs are lengthy, full of jargon and complicated business processes, and very difficult to navigate even for indigenous tourism professionals. Not to mention that millions of Canadians are trying to access the same supports at the same time. In addition, many indigenous entrepreneurs only speak English or French as a second language, which complicates the understanding of the applications, and they often have poor telephone and internet connections due to the lack of infrastructure in their communities. An indigenous-led organization like ITAC is essential here. ITAC offers administrative, marketing, training and financial support. They identify existing gaps and offer specialized services at a much higher success rate and at a much lower cost than traditional government agencies, saving tax money.

“It’s so shocking to me that governments are in New Zealand, Australia and The United States Everyone is increasingly investing in their indigenous tourism, but our government is reducing ours. Before, Canada led the world in developing indigenous tourism experiences; We not only raised the bar, we also raised it. It is a shame and a shame that we are falling behind. It will be almost impossible to get back to the top after this huge step backwards, which is a loss of 30 years of progress and development, “says Henry.

To arrange an interview with Brenda Holder, Chairman of the ITAC Board of Directors or Keith Henry, President and CEO of ITAC, please contact [email protected].

Further information on the federal budget can be found at Here.
Click to view ITAC’s 2020-24 Strategic Recovery Plan Here.
Click to view ITAC’s second wave response Here.
Click to see ITAC’s response to the Federal Budget webinar Here.

Via the indigenous tourism association of Canada
The indigenous tourism association of Canada (ITAC) is a national not-for-profit organization of the indigenous tourism industry founded in 2015. ITAC is the leading organization tasked with developing and promoting the indigenous tourism industry across the country. Inspired by the vision of a thriving indigenous tourism economy that shares authentic, memorable and enriching experiences, ITAC develops relationships with groups and regions with similar mandates to enable the collective support, product development, promotion and marketing of authentic indigenous tourism businesses in a respectful protocol.

SOURCE Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada

For further information: Media contacts: Nicole Amiel, Beattie Tartan, 416.436.5185, [email protected];; French media inquiries: Sebastien Desnoyers-Picard, Marketing Director of the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada, 418.655.0210, [email protected]