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Destination Vancouver to heighten Indigenous tourism promotion

Destination marketer for the region signs agreement with Indigenous Tourism BC
totemsinstanleypark-glenkorstrom
A popular landmark for visitors to Stanley park are totem poles near Brockton Point | Glen Korstrom

Destination Vancouver – the organization previously known as Tourism Vancouver – today formalized its commitment to reconciliation and future efforts to highlight Indigenous cultures in a memorandum of understanding with Indigenous Tourism BC (ITBC).

While tourism organizations across B.C. have promoted Indigenous tourism for many years, Destination Vancouver is touting this agreement is key because it is a begins a formal process.

That process involves building an ongoing relationship between Destination Vancouver and ITBC, as well as the xwməθkwəy̓ əm (Musqueam), səl̓ ílwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), and Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) Nations to promote Indigenous cultures, experiences and businesses.

“We are pleased to see a formal relationship between Destination Vancouver and ITBC, based on mutual respect and a commitment to the shared goal of building strong Indigenous regional economies in the tourism industry,” said Brenda Baptiste, board chair of ITBC.

“By sharing our unique resources and diverse skill sets, we create a tourism industry legacy based on relationships that support thriving Indigenous cultures, social and economic development for Indigenous People, and responsible stewardship of the land and water.”

Destination Vancouver CEO Royce Chwin said he believes it is essential to make Indigenous voices an integral component of the work his organization must do to rebuild, creating a more resilient and regenerative visitor economy that is “anchored in a triple bottom line approach," that supports people, and the planet, while enabling tourism businesses to be profitable. 

“Destination Vancouver has a responsibility and role to play in reconciliation with our First Nations partners," he said. "We will build a future that fully reflects the cultures and diversity of local First Nations and educates visitors about the history of the land we welcome travellers to.” •