Chief Son-i-Hat Whale House at the Historic Haida Village of Kasaan in Alaska
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (September 24, 2024) – Today, the American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association (AIANTA), the only national organization dedicated to advancing cultural tourism in Native Nations and communities across the United States, and the National Tour Association (NTA) announced that the organizations have entered a reciprocal cooperation agreement to build awareness of destinations across U.S. Native Nations and their travel products among NTA’s community of travel professionals.
Travel serves as a catalyst for a productive U.S. economy and helps power the success of other industries. American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-owned hospitality businesses contribute $15.7 billion in annual sales to the tourism and hospitality sector in the U.S., according to the Economic Impact of U.S. Indigenous Tourism Businesses Report, produced by AIANTA in partnership with Honolulu-based SMS Research. The AIANTA and NTA partnership will also aim to educate NTA travel professionals on how to do business with Indigenous-owned businesses and sell Indigenous tourism experiences.
“We’re at a pivotal time for Indigenous Tourism across our Native Nations and communities in the U.S.,” said AIANTA CEO Sherry L. Rupert. “With a heightened awareness of responsible travel, diverse travel experiences and cultural heritage tourism on the rise, this strategic partnership with the National Tour Association will help grow tourism to our Native Nations and communities while also providing education on how to do business with Indigenous operators.”
NTA seeks to lead the responsible growth of travel to, from, and within North America by connecting diverse professionals and enhancing the travel experience, always considering our impact on communities and the planet.
“AIANTA’s mission statement and core values speak to NTA’s commitment to integrity, sustainability, inclusivity, collaboration and teamwork, learning and innovation,” said Catherine Prather, CTP, President of the National Tour Association. “By working together in this new partnership, we can increase awareness of Native Nations and destinations among NTA’s community of travel professionals.”
For more than 25 years, AIANTA has worked to address inequities in the tourism system and has served as the national voice for American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian nations engaged in cultural tourism, while providing technical assistance, training and capacity building to Native Nations and communities and Native-owned enterprises engaged in tourism, hospitality, and recreation.
Native Nations and communities who are looking to start or expand their cultural tourism footprint can find resources at www.aianta.org and visitors interested in learning more about Native culture can visit www.nativeamerica.travel. To learn more about the National Tour Association visit www.NTAonline.com.