Travel Industry Partnerships

ITBC promotes Indigenous tourism and ITBC’s Export-Ready Stakeholders to receptive tour operators, tour operators, travel agencies and other third-party sales channels with the goal to grow Indigenous experience inclusions in travellers’ itineraries and packages.

ITBC’s travel trade efforts focus on integrating Indigenous tourism experiences into international travel itineraries by collaborating with travel agents, tour operators, and wholesalers. These travel professionals are responsible for packaging and promoting Indigenous tourism to overseas consumers, using their knowledge of what travellers want. These partnerships help showcase Indigenous experiences globally, reaching new audiences while honouring their cultural significance and positioning them as essential components of BC travel itineraries.

Our travel trade work includes key initiatives such as Rendez-vous Canada (RVC) 2022, where ITBC attends and meets with travel partners from Canada, the U.S., Germany, the UK, and Australia to promote Indigenous tourism. Another example is Showcase Europe, where ITBC collaborated with Audley Travel and the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada to present Indigenous experiences to nearly 200 guests in London. We also host yearly familiarization tours, including one at Nemiah Valley Lodge, where international tour operators can connect directly with Indigenous tourism businesses.

These efforts create meaningful change for Indigenous communities and businesses. For Indigenous operators they provide access to global markets, increase visitor numbers, and drive revenue. For travellers, these seamless, immersive experiences create meaningful connections with Indigenous culture and the land.

ITBC staff work alongside partners to strengthen relationships and integrate Indigenous tourism into international travel offerings. This hard work ensures that Indigenous tourism experiences are essential to global travel itineraries.