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

Cargo ships carrying stacked containers across calm water with a bridge and mountains in the background.
Research

Gearing Up for Global Exports: Identifying Skills and Promising Practices to Support Indigenous Exportersexternal link icon

Indigenous small and medium‑sized enterprises (SMEs) in Canada continue to be under‑represented in global trade due to long‑standing barriers that limit their access to global markets, financing, and export‑related support.
Research

Made in Nunavut: building Inuit skills for northern offshore fisheries and beyond

This case study analysis focuses on skills training for Nunavut’s commercial offshore fisheries, but the lessons learned are applicable to Nunavut’s inshore fisheries, broader marine sectors, and other Northern industries.
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Research

Digital Differences: The impact of automation on the Indigenous economy in Canada

How is technological change, and specifically automation, affecting Indigenous workers in Canada? Digital Differences looks at the impact of automation on the Indigenous economy by industry and region.
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