COVID-19 Impact on Indigenous-Tourism

Wednesday, 15 April 2020 16:31

Many Indigenous communities across B.C. have been forced to restrict access to their towns and villages to protect against the spread of COVID-19 -- and that is devastating Indigenous tourism operators.

Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada president Keith Henry says almost nothing has been done to help the sector, even though it pumped more than two-billion dollars into the federal economy last year.

Operators such as James Cowpar (COW-PAR) with Haida Style Expeditions, says all the cultural eco-tours offered by his coastal B.C. company have been cancelled next month, threatening the survival of the operation.

A federal stimulus package is said to be in the works, but Tourism Minister Melanie Joly has not yet released any details.

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