ITO Strategic & Covid-19 Recovery Plan

CES was hired by Indigenous Tourism Ontario (ITO) to assist in the development of their 5-year strategic organizational plan in response to the impacts that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the Indigenous tourism industry in Ontario. The pandemic created unstable grounds for all sectors of the tourism industry, therefore the need for creating a comprehensive and visionary plan that paves a bright way towards recovery was essential.

The plan was built upon three stages: preservation, renewal and rejuvenation. By using a multi-dimensional approach, the plan addressed the social, economic, environmental, and cultural impacts that the pandemic had on the province’s Indigenous tourism industry. The plan explored how to move forward balancing each of these elements while considering the communal good of the people, communities, province, and country. The plan’s development involved extensive engagement with the industry by means of ITO’s Business Support Brokers, key organizational partners, as well as implementing a good-neighbour philosophy to encourage collaboration and sharing during challenging times.