The American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association (AIANTA) and Destinations International have announced a two-year strategic partnership aimed at amplifying Indigenous tourism efforts across the United States through Destinations International’s global network.
The agreement was formalized during the Destinations International 2025 Annual Convention held last week in Chicago, Illinois.
AIANTA, the only national organization dedicated to advancing cultural heritage tourism in Native Nations and communities throughout the U.S., will work with Destinations International to promote programs, services and products that benefit their stakeholders and increase awareness of Indigenous tourism on an international scale.
“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.”
According to The Economic Impact of U.S. Indigenous Tourism Businesses Report, developed by AIANTA and SMS Research, Indigenous-owned hospitality businesses contribute approximately $11.6 billion annually to the U.S. tourism and hospitality sector.
Destinations International represents more than 9,000 professionals from over 750 destinations in 23 countries. The association’s members include destination organizations, convention and visitor bureaus and tourism boards, with a collective spending power of more than $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 & CEO of Destinations International. “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 focused on addressing inequities in the tourism system, supporting American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian nations through technical assistance, training and capacity-building initiatives.
Editor’s Note: This article was generated by AI, based on a press release distributed by AIANTA and Destinations International. It was fact-checked and reviewed by a TravelAge West editor.
