The Aboriginal Tourism Association of Canada is working in Alberta to create a provincial Aboriginal tourism organization lead by the Indigenous community.
Tourism is an $8.3 billion industry in Alberta and creates more than 127,000 jobs in the province.
The Alberta Aboriginal tourism forums, which get underway next week, will address how businesses and community can overcome the challenges and barriers for Aboriginal peoples entering the tourism industry.
Alberta is home to 140 Aboriginal-themed businesses that contribute nearly $170 million in value-added GDP.
ATAC has developed a five-year strategic plan (2016-2021) to maximize opportunities for Canada’s Aboriginal tourism industry. ATAC’s target goals for 2021 include a $300 million increase in the annual Canadian GDP from Aboriginal tourism, a total of 40,233 Aboriginal tourism workers and 50 new Aboriginal tourism operators at export-ready status.
Regional forums will be held in Fort McMurray (May 15), Fort Chipewyan (May16), Enoch (May 18), Lac La Biche (May 24), Slave Lake (May 25), Hinton (May 30), Blackfoot Crossing Historical Park (June 1) and Lethbridge (June 2).