In 2017, there were nearly 19,000 businesses located in Indigenous communities (approximately 17,000 in First Nations communities and 2,000 in Inuit communities). Combined, these businesses generated just over $10 billion in total revenue and $0.4 billion in profits in the reference year of this study.
Webinar on APC 2019 Report: Highlighting Successful Atlantic Indigenous Businesses
Indigenous businesses in Atlantic Canada are making a sizeable contribution to the regional economy and are expanding rapidly, but financial obstacles remain a significant barrier to their future growth.
Infographic for APC 2019 Report: Highlighting Successful Atlantic Indigenous Businesses
The purpose of the study was to highlight Atlantic Indigenous business success stories and how these can inform and assist further growth.
This study shows that Atlantic Indigenous business revenues were valued at $1.6 billion in 2016. Indigenous firms are growing rapidly, creating jobs and income for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous workers. APEC’s report highlights factors that could further their growth.
This 2019 research study is the most comprehensive to
date and while it provides a comparative analysis between
2003 and 2019, the emphasis of the analysis is placed
on the more relevant data between 2012 and 2019. The
updated information allows for an understanding of the
status of WBOs in Atlantic Canada and the directional
trends of the key criteria of both studies. New to this
study was a review of WBOs who identified as members
of other under-represented groups (Indigenous People,
ITAC partnered with Destination Think! to conduct a tourism sentiment index specific to Indigenous tourism in Canada. The resulting conversation sentiment score is a measure of ITAC and its membership’s ability to generate positive word of mouth around the indigenous tourism offering in Canada.
1.Indigenous tourism sector growth is outpacing Canadian tourism activity overall.
• Growth in Indigenous tourism sector employment and GDP is substantially outpacing growth in employment and GDP generated by overall tourism activity in Canada (employment: +18.7% vs +5.1%; GDP: +23.2% vs +12.0%)
Working with our partners, ITAC has conducted a number of industry research projects. This research is undertaken as part of ITAC’s commitment to understanding the current state of the Indigenous tourism industry within Canada. The findings of the research is used to shape our programs and guide our work into the future.
Research on various topics related to tourism by the Atlantic Canada Agreement on Tourism, ACAT.
2018 Research
ACAT 2018 US Consumer Study – Summary Report
ACAT 2018 US Consumer Study – Key Findings
2017 Research
ACAT Consumer Research
US Lifestyle Segmentation – Cultural Explorers Persona
US Lifestyle Segmentation – Younger Authentic Experiencers Persona
US Lifestyle Segmentation – Older Authentic Experiencers Persona
In 2018, ACAT will invest in a direct-to-consumer advertising campaign in the Mid-Atlantic
(New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania) and New England (Maine, Massachusetts, New
Hampshire, Connecticut, Vermont, and Rhode Island) regions of the United States. This
campaign will position the four Atlantic Provinces as preferred leisure travel destinations
among identified Explorer Quotient segments.
