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

A red semi-truck hauling freight on a mountain highway, with snow-capped Rocky Mountain peaks and evergreen forest in the background.
Research

Mapping Indigenous Export Potential: The Intersection of Indigenous Self-Employment With Canada’s Export Economyexternal link icon

Indigenous-owned SMEs operating in export-engaged industries tend to be more resilient and achieve higher growth than those serving only domestic markets, yet the Indigenous export rate (7.2 per cent) remains well below the Canadian average (12.1 per cent).
five workers walk in front of shipping containers at a port
Research

Canadians worry about impact of trade war as pessimism about economy deepens

Concerns about the impact of U.S. tariffs are contributing to a growing pessimism among Canadians about the economy, employment and their own financial situation.
A woman teaching a younger girl how to drill and build a wooden box.
Project

Doing It Right

The Doing It Right project, based in the Yukon, sought to address the barriers faced by women and gender-diverse individuals in the skilled trades.
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