Interactive trip planning adds another dimension to Indigenous travel in BC

March 5, 2020, Coast Salish Territories (Vancouver, BC):

This week Indigenous Tourism BC (ITBC) proudly announced the launch of the Indigenous BC mobile app, an interactive trip planning and educational resource that immerses travellers in the cultures, traditions and raw beauty of BC’s diverse Indigenous territories.

Indigenous communities have shared their cultures, knowledge and languages through oral traditions for countless generations. The Indigenous BC app, available on Android and iOS, honours this tradition with rich digital storytelling from thriving Indigenous cultures in BC. Combining compelling narration, descriptive itineraries and language lessons, the platform guides visitors through authentic experiences around the province.

Supporting the unprecedented growth of Indigenous tourism, travellers planning a trip to BC can browse the app for inspiration, saving content to their Favourites collection to revisit later. Visitors who are already in-destination can share their location in the Explore section, which unlocks geotargeted content and recommendations for Indigenous-run attractions, activities and accommodations nearby.

The app’s intuitive and user-friendly design makes it easy for travellers of all ages to find trip planning information, including accommodations, activities and special offers with a connection to Indigenous tourism. These practical insights are paired with engaging storytelling that allows users to view featured businesses within a larger context of Indigenous culture and history. The app also features an Indigenous language section, where users can learn common words and phrases.

As well as inspiring consumer confidence in local Indigenous tourism experiences, the new application provides ITBC’s Stakeholders with an additional marketing tool to drive awareness and bookings.  ITBC enhances economic opportunities for Indigenous people by providing Indigenous-owned businesses with the resources, support and training required to support and accelerate tourism’s unprecedented growth in BC.

Quotes

“We are thrilled to launch the Indigenous Tourism BC app, which invites visitors to explore BC’s diverse Indigenous communities more intimately than ever before,” said Brenda Baptiste, Chair of ITBC. “Today’s visitors rely on travel resources that can be readily accessed at all times, and our app delivers with this practical trip planning information enhanced by fascinating content that will appeal to any traveller seeking a meaningful and authentic travel experience.”

“BC’s Indigenous communities have a rich, deep-rooted cultural heritage that should and must be shared to give us the opportunity to feel connected to their culture and tradition” said the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Indigenous Services. “ Our Government is pleased to support this app that will help travelers book authentic tourism activities and experience the culture and traditions through the eyes of BC’s diverse Indigenous communities.”

“Indigenous culture is woven deeply within the fabric of British Columbia. This app is a great example of how tourism can showcase our rich Indigenous histories and spectacular traditional territories to visitors from around the world.” – Marsha Walden, CEO of Destination BC.

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