Visitor Outreach

AIANTA plays a critical role in supporting the National Travel and Tourism Strategy to bring more visitors to the United States, especially in our participation at trade shows internationally and domestically, to promote tourism in Indian Country. AIANTA’s Visitor Outreach Program is critical to fulfilling our mission and promise to American Indian Tribes and Native communities.

Unique to AIANTA, we work with tribes throughout the process of preparing for and entering the tourism marketplace. Currently, AIANTA promotes Indian Country destinations to visitor markets at these international travel and trade shows:

U.S. Travel Association’s IPW

AIANTA, funded by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), represents Indian Country tourism as part of the BIA booth in the America’s Great Outdoors section, along with other federal partners, at the U.S. Travel Association’s Annual IPW (formerly International Pow Wow).

U.S. Travel Association’s IPW is the travel industry’s premier international marketplace and the largest generator of travel to the U.S.A. IPW hosted more than 1,100 exhibitor booths held by U.S. suppliers of travel products and destinations and more than 5,000 attendees who are international travel buyers, domestic travel buyers and international journalists representing more than 70 countries. In 2017, AIANTA had more than 65 business meetings during the three-day event, not including visits to more than 200 vendor booths.

To learn more about IPW or to provide your brochure or marketing materials to AIANTA for international distribution, contact Russel Pedro at 505-433-2120 or rpedro@aianta.org. 

Go West Summit

Each year, Go West Summit introduces the world’s top international tour operators to specialty suppliers offering tourism-related products or services in the American West. February 25-28, 2019, Go West Summit will partner with Boise Convention & Visitors Bureau, Southwest Idaho Travel Association, and Idaho Tourism to present the ultimate business-to-business tourism convention experience, with a side of adventure.

Although only tourism representatives from western states qualify to attend and participate in Go West Summit, members of AIANTA from anywhere in the country are welcome to register.

For more information about Go West Summit, click here, or contact Russel Pedro at 505-433-2120 or rpedro@aianta.org. 

Showcase USA-Italy

AIANTA introduced Indian Country tourism to the Italian market for the first time at Showcase USA-Italy in 2015, and we have continued our outreach in Italy ever since.

Showcase USA-Italy, organized by the U.S. Commercial Service and Visit USA Association Italy, is the ideal event for both new-to-market companies and repeat exhibitors wishing to form new partnerships and reconfirm placements with existing clients. At the 18th annual edition, U.S. participants individually met with 25-30 major Italian tour operators in addition to travel agents and media contacts.

Based on data collected by the U.S. Department of Commerce, there is growth in the Italian market in visitation from established categories of travelers, including those who visit National Parks/ Monuments, Small Towns/Countryside, and Historical Locations and Cultural/Ethnic Heritage Sites.  The data indicates high interest is likely for Native American tourism venues.

To learn more about Showcase USA-Italy or to provide your brochure or marketing materials to AIANTA for international distribution, contact Russel Pedro at 505-433-2120 or rpedro@aianta.org. 

ITB Berlin

Each March, AIANTA sponsors an expansive American Indian Pavilion at ITB Berlin, the world’s leading travel and trade show, providing tribal tourism departments and native-owned tourism businesses the opportunity to showcase their programs and tour packages to the European tourism industry.

Many in the tourism industry consider Germany as one of the most reliable travel markets to the U.S.—in fact, from 2007 to 2016, German travel to the U.S. grew 34%, and in 2017 Germany ranked seventh in total international arrivals to the U.S.

The niche German travelers who are also visiting Indian Country are still showing strong interest in the U.S. as their intercontinental destination of choice.

German leisure travelers who visit Native American sites stay longer and are more mobile; they also tend to do far more than the average German traveler to the U.S.  Apart from shopping and sightseeing, the top activities for Germans to Indian Country are visiting national parks, small towns/countryside, historic locations, cultural/ethnic heritage sites, taking guided tours and touring art galleries/museums.

AIANTA booth participants have made hundreds of invaluable contacts with international travel organizations, tour operators and the travel press.

More than 175,000 trade professionals and consumers participate each year in ITB. Now is the time to capture your tribe’s or business’ share of this vast market by joining AIANTA at ITB 2019!

To join AIANTA at ITB Berlin or for more information, contact Russel Pedro at 505-433-2120 or rpedro@aianta.org. 

World Travel Market, UK

Staged annually in London, the World Travel Market (WTM) is one of the leading global events for the travel industry. More than 50,000 travel industry professionals, government ministers and international press visit to network, negotiate and discover the latest industry opinion and trends at WTM.  According to the National Travel and Tourism Office, the UK was the second largest market generating visitors to Indian Country in 2016, and UK travel growth nearly matched the overseas growth of 17%.

WTM is a new addition to the AIANTA International Programming. With help from U.S. Commercial Services London, AIANTA is working to grow the presence at this premier international trade show for Indian Country with representatives present from all regions.  Each region is encouraged to collaborate, pool resources and choose a representative to attend the show alongside AIANTA.

To join AIANTA at WTM London or for more information, contact Rachel Cromer Howard at 505-724-3578 or rcromer@aianta.org.