VANCOUVER — The Honourable Bardish Chagger, Minister of Small Business and Tourism, recently announced a $2,250,000 investment from the Government of Canada to support Aboriginal Tourism B.C.’s (ATBC) ‘Pulling Together’ strategy over the next three years.
This investment will help Indigenous businesses and communities in B.C. offer more authentic indigenous tourism experiences for visitors to the province. Through this investment, ATBC will execute strategic projects and activities that will benefit existing and future Indigenous tourism businesses. Benefits include increased employment for Indigenous people, greater Indigenous participation in the Western Canadian economy and an increase and expansion of Indigenous tourism businesses.
“Indigenous tourism experiences offer visitors from around the world a tremendous opportunity to learn more about the rich, proud cultural heritage of the original peoples of this land. It also helps create good jobs and new opportunities for indigenous communities, from coast to coast to coast,” says Minister Chagger. “As our largest service export and largest employer of youth, Canada’s tourism is a significant economic driver and job creator. Our government is proud to support Aboriginal Tourism B.C. as it works with Indigenous tourism businesses right across British Columbia to grow and continue sharing these important stories.”
