Societe touristique des Autochtones du Quebec Receives Financial Assistance From Government of Canada to Implement its Commercialization Plan

WENDAKE, QUEBEC--(Marketwire - Nov. 8, 2011) - Acting on behalf of the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, Jacques Gourde, Member of Parliament for Lotbinière–Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, today announced the awarding of $95,000 in non-repayable funding to the Société touristique des Autochtones du Québec (STAQ) through the Community Diversification program to commercialize Aboriginal tourism products outside Quebec.

"The Government of Canada is pleased to lend its financial support to the Société touristique des Autochtones du Québec, whose project promises to tap the growth potential of Aboriginal tourism and help make Canada a premier destination," said MP Jacques Gourde.

STAQ's commercialization strategy is based on the development of distinctive products such as introductory activities on Aboriginal culture and stays in an Aboriginal community, some of them in total immersion. The Société will develop marketing tools, enhance its Web site, and make greater use of social media. In addition, it will take part in international fairs and trade shows and organize promotional tours for the media and travel professionals. The target markets are France, Belgium, Germany and Italy.

"We thank the Government of Canada for this financial assistance. Aboriginal tourism is not only a unique tourist attraction to sell Canada to international visitors, but an important socioeconomic lever for Aboriginal communities," noted Dave Laveau, STAQ's Executive Director.

Raising awareness of Aboriginal culture is sure to improve the positioning of indigenous tourism products and help attract more out-of-province visitors, while generating positive benefits for the tourism industry as a whole and bolstering the capacity of certain Quebec communities and regions to attract and retain travellers.

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