American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association Partners with International Inbound Travel Association to Grow International Visitation to Native Nations’ Destinations and Properties
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association Partners with International Inbound Travel Association to Grow International Visitation to Native Nations’ Destinations and Properties
New memorandum of understanding aims to increase awareness among inbound travel operators and educate on how to do business with Native-owned businesses
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (October 12, 2023) – Today, the American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association (AIANTA) and the International Inbound Travel Association (IITA) announced that the organizations have entered a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with a shared goal to grow international visitation to destinations and properties across Native Nations and communities in the U.S.
The announcement comes after the MOU was signed in front of more than 350 attendees at AIANTA’s 25th Annual American Indigenous Tourism Conference last week at the Choctaw Casino & Resort in Durant, Oklahoma.
“As AIANTA continues to grow our partnerships across the globe, it’s important to have an ally with strong international travel practices like the International Inbound Travel Association, who shares in our mission to define, introduce, grow, and sustain American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian tourism in the U.S.,” said AIANTA CEO Sherry L. Rupert. “Strengthening linkage between AIANTA and IITA will help inbound travel operators work better and more efficiently with our Native Nations and communities.”
The MOU will also aim to educate IITA inbound operators on how to do business with Native-owned businesses as well as sell Native tour products.
“Strengthening the linkage between our associations will help our members make connections and better understand how to work with one another,” said IITA CEO Lisa Simon. “If there was a silver lining to the pandemic, it’s that the industry is uniting around sustainability, diversity and responsible tourism. AIANTA has been an effective leader in these areas, and we look forward to learning more from the organization. With a mission to grow inbound travel to the U.S. by providing the best and widest range of product, services and information to the international travel trade, IITA serves as the bridge to international inbound business and is committed to serving the needs of its members and to advancing the industry as a whole. Today, IITA is involved in a wide range of industry activities, working with suppliers, DMOs, industry organizations and regulatory agencies to improve the quality of travel related services for visitors to the U.S.,” said Simon.
For 25 years, AIANTA has served as the only national organization dedicated to advancing cultural tourism in Native Nations and communities across the United States and was established by tribes for tribes to address inequities in the tourism system. Governed by an all-Native board of directors, AIANTA serves as a united voice for the $14 billion Native hospitality sector with several key accomplishments, most notably its successful legislative work that led to the Native American Tourism and Improving Visitor Experience Act (NATIVE Act) funding in 2018.
Tribes 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 International Inbound Travel Association, visit https://inboundtravel.org/.
About AIANTA
Founded in 1998, AIANTA was established by tribes for tribes to address inequities in the tourism system. Governed by an all-Native board of directors, AIANTA serves as a united voice for the $14 billion Native hospitality sector. AIANTA’s priorities are; 1) to provide technical assistance and training, research, and publications to American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian communities engaged in tourism and hospitality; 2) to facilitate conversations with the Native communities, federal agencies, non-profit associations, and elected officials on the economic and cultural importance of a healthy hospitality industry; 3) to highlight the importance of visiting authentic Native destinations, including cultural, heritage, historic, and artistic sites; and 4) to generate awareness, interest and demand for these destinations with domestic and international travelers, the travel trade and the media. www.aianta.org.
About the International Inbound Travel Association
The International Inbound Travel Association is the trade association of the United States’ inbound travel industry. Its members are the leading U.S.-based inbound operators, which are companies providing B2B travel services to international tour operators and travel buyers around the world. Other members include U.S. destinations and suppliers that work in partnership with the international inbound travel trade. For more information on the International Inbound Travel Association, membership, new programs or services, please visit inboundtravel.org.
Contact:
Liz Slobodian on behalf of AIANTA
(904) 237-1285 or Liz@shipwrightcommunications.com
Photos Below (additional available upon request):
Photo credit: AIANTA // Caption: AIANTA CEO Sherry L. Rupert (left) and IITA CEO & Executive Director Lisa Simon sign the MOU at the 25th Annual American Indigenous Tourism Conference