The Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC) focuses on creating partnerships between associations, organizations, government departments and industry leaders from across Canada to support the growth of Indigenous tourism in Canada and address the demand for development and marketing of authentic Indigenous experiences. ITAC has an established membership process that enables Indigenous tourism industry partners to engage with and show support for Indigenous tourism.
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.
The Atlantic Canada Agreement on Tourism (ACAT) in support of the Atlantic Canada Tourism Partnership (ACTP) brings together the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), the provincial departments responsible for tourism in New Brunswick , Newfoundland and Labrador , Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island and the four provincial tourism industry associations.
"This study assessed tourists' motivations and satisfaction in participating in authentic Mi'kmaw tourism activities in Nova Scotia, Canada, as well as the ideas, perceptions and components of sustainable cultural tourism development from the Mi'kmaw perspective. To solicit the tourists' perspective, surveys were administered to tourists visiting the existing Mi'kmaw cultural tourism sites in Nova Scotia, while the Mi'kmaw perspective was obtained through key informant interviews.
"This research examines the Mi'kmaw cultural tourism industry in Nova Scotia and identifies how it is meeting the demands and- needs of both tourists and the Mi'kmaw people. Surveys assessed tourist interests, motivations, expectations, and satisfaction in participating in authentic Mi'kmaw tourism. Subsequently, interviews with Mi'kmaw people involved or interested in Mi'kmaw cultural tourism elicited ideas about cultural tourism development and its future sustainability.
"Indigenous peoples have been involved with tourism since they first hosted guests through exploratory and early colonial encounters, yet Indigenous ownership and control of such venues is a relatively new phenomenon worldwide. Indigenous tourism encompasses a wide range of experiences, including cultural tourism, ecotourism, adventure tourism, gaming, resorts, and other related services.