Don Welsh, president & CEO of Destinations International (left) and Sherry L. Rupert, CEO of AIANTA (right). (Photo Credit: Destinations International)
WHY IT RATES: The new partnership is paramount as it will assist Indigenous destinations across the U.S. in building awareness through Destinations International's vast global travel network.—Patrick Clarke, TravelPulse Senior Editor
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 United States, and Destinations International, the world’s largest global network of destination organizations, convention and visitor bureaus (CVBs), and tourism boards, announced a two-year strategic partnership to jointly promote and deliver programs, products, and services that benefit both organizations and create meaningful, shared value for their stakeholders.
The partnership announcement comes after the agreement was signed at the Destinations International 2025 Annual Convention last week in Chicago, Illinois.
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 $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."
Representing the largest global network of destination organizations, convention bureaus, and tourism boards, Destinations International is a dedicated champion of travel. Their members form a powerful association of 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 & 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 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 Indigenous culture can visit www.nativeamerica.travel.
SOURCE: AIANTA and Destinations International press release.
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