Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC)

The Northern Tourism Recovery Incubator developed by ITAC was created to support SMEs in Northern communities to strengthen their business, rebuild Indigenous tourism operators and re-train staff members to support visitors and public health expectations as the tourism industry recovers.

The needs of these businesses were assessed through a national accreditation program (Project Rise) which provided individual business assessments and aggregated data for ongoing support. By working with the Indigenous provincial and territorial partners, ITAC supported the effective delivery of regionally specific support to revitalize operators ahead of the 2023 operating season. Regional needs were considered as businesses reported through the accreditation program, recognizing that the gaps in one part of the country may not be the same as another. This coordinated effort aimed to increase tourism revenues and jobs by increasing Indigenous tourism products to meet visitor demands.

Aerial view of the airport. Airplane taxiing to runway.

Featured Projects

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Research

Focus on the future of skills and work in a digital economy

The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) and FSC sponsored a stream of labour market research reports on Skills and Work in the Digital Economy.
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Project

Teaching Vulnerable SMEs the Innovation Skills to Develop Sustainable, Long-Term Remote Work Strategies

Small and medium-sized businesses owned by women and persons with disabilities were disproportionately affected by COVID-19, with a higher percentage reporting that they were unable to operate during the pandemic. To address this issue, pointA developed a virtual, 4-week course to help small business owners develop remote work strategies.
Image of Northern Lights.
Project

Shock Proofing Yukon: Northern Entrepreneur Development Network

In Canada’s North, entrepreneurship is important for local job creation and economic diversification. Because many entrepreneurs are Indigenous, their businesses also bring direct economic benefits to their communities. To support entrepreneurship, strong networks and access to training, mentorship and other supports are essential.
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