Home »
AtBC workshop Feb. 19 at ?akisq’nuk Band office
During the next six months, Aboriginal Tourism BC (AtBC) – with support from the Ministry of Jobs, Trade and Technology – will engage with Indigenous communities and entrepreneurs in every region of the province to support the development of tourism experiences needed to meet the growing visitor demand for authentic Indigenous experiences.
The first AtBC meeting is this upcoming Monday, February 19 at the ?akisqnuk Band Administration Office at Windermere from 10 a.m. – 2:40 p.m.
The one-day workshops will demonstrate the value of tourism while providing a forum for discussion and brainstorming to grow the Indigenous tourism industry.
A growing number of travellers hunger for a deeper connection with the world around them. Never before have these audiences been as ready to hear authentic Indigenous stories and experience the power of Indigenous cultures in B.C. Over the next three years, AtBC expects that with partnerships, alignment and a strategic focus, the efforts will assist the Indigenous tourism industry in BC to welcome 2.2 million visitors and help generate $1.5 billion in spending.
Attendees will be provided with a roadmap of how to become involved as communities, managers or entrepreneurs, and businesses will be offered support in the cultural and business aspects of tourism development. Indigenous operators, entrepreneurs, community members, leaders, youth and Elders, economic development officers and Aboriginal Capital Corporations are all encouraged to attend.
The Indigenous BC Tourism Engagement workshops are free and open to anyone with an interest in growing the Indigenous tourism industry.
To participate, contact Paula Amos, Director, Partnerships & Corporate Initiatives at Aboriginal Tourism BC, at 604-921-1070 (ext. 223) or [email protected].
“Indigenous experiences are an integral part of British Columbia’s cultural story, and we are proud to partner with Aboriginal Tourism BC to help share this story with visitors,” said Bruce Ralston, Minister of Jobs, Trade and Technology. “Indigenous communities are an important part of B.C.’s economic success, and helping entrepreneurs develop more tourism-based business opportunities benefits people across the province.”
“AtBC is excited to be engaging with our Stakeholders, First Nations communities and entrepreneurs throughout the next six months. We are going into communities so that we can be grounded in the local cultures, and hear and listen to what our Stakeholders need in order to make us a more responsive organization,” adds Tracey Eyssens, Chief Executive Office of Aboriginal Tourism BC. “These engagement sessions will give AtBC the focus to develop and deliver programs throughout 2018 / 2019 that will truly drive the Indigenous Tourism sector.”
AtBC is a non-profit, Stakeholder-based organization that is committed to growing and promoting a sustainable, culturally rich Indigenous tourism industry.
Through training, information resources, networking opportunities and co-operative marketing programs, AtBC is a one-stop resource for Indigenous entrepreneurs and communities in BC who are operating or looking to start a tourism business. AtBC works closely with tourism, business, education and government organizations to help BC’s Indigenous tourism businesses offer quality experiences and actively promote these experiences to visitors and local residents.
Lead image: St. Eugene Golf Resort and Casino at ?aqam outside Cranbrook, an example of a major regional and Ktunaxa Nation tourism industry mainstay. e-KNOW file photo
Submitted
