Point of View-Int´l Indigenous Tourism Conference in Manitoba. Image: Global News

For the first time ever, Manitoba is the host of the International Indigenous Tourism Conference, where Indigenous tourism operators and associations have all gathered in Winnipeg for the event which got underway Wednesday.

“We are very excited to be here,” said Keith Henry, the president and CEO of the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC).

“ITAC, sort of, facilitates marketing and development of Indigenous tourism in the country. We work with partners like Indigenous Tourism Manitoba and Travel Manitoba to help raise the level of awareness of Indigenous tourism opportunities here in Manitoba. So, we do that across the country and one of the ways we want to position Canada as a world leader is hosting an international conference.”

Henry said this is the tenth conference and the first in Manitoba and there are over 1,000 delegates in attendance.

Of those attending, Henry said 25 per cent are from Manitoba and every province and territory is represented. There are also groups from the United States as well as Columbia, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand and many other countries.

“It’s quite a broad spectrum of Indigenous tourism partners and global leaders that want to help raise the awareness of Indigenous experiences”, he said.

Source: CTVNewsWinnipeg.ca