The American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association (AIANTA), the only national organization dedicated to advancing cultural heritage tourism in Native Nations and communities across the U.S., and Destinations International (DI), the world’s largest global network of destination organizations, convention bureaus and tourism boards, announced a two-year strategic partnership.
Together, they aim to amplify Indigenous tourism in the U.S. to a global audience and plan to jointly promote and deliver programs, products and services that benefit both organizations and create meaningful, shared value for their stakeholders.
The agreement was signed at the Destinations International 2025 Annual Convention July 9-11 in Chicago.
American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-owned hospitality businesses contribute $11.6 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.
“AIANTA’s partnership with Destinations International marks a pivotal moment for Indigenous tourism," said Sherry L. Rupert, CEO of AIANTA. "This collaboration will undoubtedly elevate Indigenous perspectives within the global tourism industry. Through this collaboration, we look forward to sharing knowledge, building stronger relationships and creating tools that support respectful engagement with Indigenous communities across the United States."
[Related: A Global Effort to Future-Proof Tourism and Biz Travel at DI's Annual]
Representing the largest global network of destination organizations, convention bureaus and tourism boards, DI’s membership includes more than 9,000 professionals from over 750 destinations in 23 countries across the globe, with a combined spending power of over $3.5 billion.
“We are proud to partner with AIANTA to help ensure that travel and tourism serves visitors and honors the values and interests of Indigenous communities,” said Don Welsh, president and CEO of DI. “Our partnership with the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC) in recent years has been and continues to be meaningful, and we are excited to deepen our efforts around Indigenous tourism in North America through this important and impactful partnership with AIANTA.”
For more than 26 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 aianta.org and visitors interested in learning more about Indigenous culture can visit nativeamerica.travel.
