British Columbia has an emerging world class tourism industry and is blessed with a diversity and richness of natural resources, First nations culture, and First Nations heritage. The future prosperity of the tourism industry in British Columbia and the future prosperity of the First Nations of British Columbia is linked to the long term sustainability of these natural resources. It is also linked to the ability to jointly realize the tourism potential of both these natural resources and the diversity of First Nations culture and heritage.
April 9-10, 1996 marked the beginning of a new era in the relationship between First Nations and the tourism industry when First Nations community leaders and tourism industry leaders from across the province met at Quaaout Lodge at Little Shuswap Lake and at the Stockmen’s Hotel in Kamloops to discuss their respective visions of the future and to explore how First Nations and the tourism industry could work together to achieve these visions.