The Pacific Asia Indigenous Tourism Conference and Trade Event (#PAITC2015) launched a new website today, co-hosted by the World Indigenous Tourism Alliance (WINTA) and Aboriginal Tourism Association of British Columbia (AtBC).
The conference promises to be an unique and exciting gathering, which will take place in the home territory of the Musqueaum, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations, also known as Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Delegates will gather from 12 to 14 September 2015 at the magnificent Pinnacle Vancouver Harbourfront Hotel.
“We selected the theme 'Creating Winning Alliances in Indigenous Tourism' to focus on the partnerships needed to support the principles and objectives set out in the Larrakia Declaration on Indigenous tourism development", said WINTA Chairman Ben Sherman, "The declaration and its human rights commitments were endorsed by Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) and the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO)”.
“The conference will bring together a significant gathering of Indigenous, State, tourism industry and civil service leaders with an interest in the development of Indigenous tourism. As usual, we will provide a platform for discussing the Indigenous approach to sustainable tourism, focusing on Indigenous knowledge, values, authenticity, community engagement and care for Mother Earth," added Mr Sherman.
AtBC Chairperson Brenda Baptiste said “We are pleased to be building on the success of the inaugural PAITC held in Darwin in 2012 by also providing a strong business trade and marketing component in Vancouver”.
“This will be a great opportunity for Canadian Aboriginal tourism businesses as well as other Indigenous tourism businesses from throughout the Pacific Asia region to share information about their tourism products and also a very convenient opportunity for the tourism trade to meet a diverse range of Indigenous enterprises”, said Ms Baptiste.
The website for #PAITC2015 may be viewed at www.paitc2015.com, where you can subscribe for email updates as the program is finalized, keynote and guest speakers are announced, and conference registration becomes available in the coming weeks.