AIANTA Visitor Outreach Program
The Visitor Outreach Program provides technical assistance and training through the American Indian Tourism Conference, Go International, webinars, experiential tradeshow opportunities, engagement on NativeAmerica.Travel, familiarization tours, and media outreach. International travelers seek authentic and unique cultural experiences which creates ample opportunities for AIANTA members to welcome the international market to their communities.
Since 2007, AIANTA has been showcasing American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian tourism on a global stage by establishing a presence at the world’s leading travel trade shows, including Showcase USA-Italy, ITB (Germany), IPW, Brand USA Travel Week, NTA Travel Exchange and World Travel Market (London). Since AIANTA first entered the international market, overseas tourism to Indian Country has nearly tripled, growing from 693,000 travelers in 2007 to nearly 2 million visitors in 2018.
Experiential Tradeshows
Attending travel tradeshows is an effective avenue for experiential learning and reaching large numbers of potential travelers in global markets. Networking with influencers and media can generate media outreach opportunities beyond current established avenues. Building new partnerships and reinforcing existing relationships can help our members gain support for their businesses in the realm of exposure, technical assistance, and mentorship. The option to learn from others on-site through conversations, observations and workshops/seminars can include updates on travel trends, industry data, and marketing and operating practices. Tradeshows AIANTA attends/attended: IPW, Go West, Brand USA Travel Week, ITB Berlin, National Travel Association Travel Week, NTA Travel Exchange, Showcase USA – Italy.
Go West | Lake Tahoe, Nevada | February 26th- 29th, 2024
Go West Summit introduces the world’s top international tour operators to specialty suppliers offering tourism-related products or services in the American West. Go West Summit presents the ultimate business-to-business tourism convention experience with a side of adventure! In 2023, the annual Go West Summit celebrated 35 years, with the debut of AIANTA notable in Anchorage (February 28 – March 2). AIANTA completed 62 arranged appointments and several impromptu meetings, to introduce AIANTA and NativeAmerica.Travel to the highly interested audience. Among the suppliers offering luxury, adventure, family, and group appropriate destinations and experiences, were eleven AIANTA members:
- Adventurous Antelope Canyon Tours
- Alaska Native Heritage Center
- Antelope Canyon Navajo Tours
- Antelope Canyon Tours
- Discover Salt River
- Ken’s Tours
- Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation
- Navajo Nation Hospitality Enterprise
- Tse Bighanilini Tours
- Tulalip Resort
- Taadidiin Tours LLC
The increase in Native representation at Go West was recognized by many long-time Go West attendees, with CEO Rupert being invited to share words during the Education Day sessions, the Adventure Day kicking off with all attendees visiting the Alaska Native Heritage Center, and the announcement of the 2024 Go West Summit in Lake Tahoe – an area with quickly growing Native cultural tourism.
To participate in travel tradeshows with AIANTA, contact Visitor Outreach Manager, Ciarra Greene at cgreene@aianta.org and update your listing(s) at NativeAmerica.Travel.
IPW | San Antonio, Texas | May 20-24, 2023
U.S. Travel Association’s IPW will continue to reunite and rebuild the global travel industry in 2023, providing an in-person platform to conduct business and renew our relationships around the world. As the leading inbound travel trade show, past IPWs have generated more than $5.5 billion in future travel by connecting U.S. travel exhibitors with travel buyers and media to promote their product and negotiate future business, securing America’s position as a foremost global travel destination and showcasing the best of what the U.S. has to offer.
AIANTA Booth Partner and Tribal Row are full for 2023. To attend with AIANTA (booth partner) or as part of Tribal Row (placed alongside other American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian destinations/experiences), in 2024, contact Visitor Outreach Manager, Ciarra Greene at cgreene@aianta.org.
For more information about IPW, visit www.ipw.org.
Webinars
AIANTA has teamed up with industry and federal partners to provide a series of webinars on resource development opportunities and other tourism related topics. Most webinars are designed to equip you with the information needed to find and apply for funding opportunities that support cultural heritage tourism development. Others provide needed information on challenges and obstacles facing the tourism industry.
All webinars are provided without charge.
- January 10, 2023, 10:00AM (MST): Travel Trade Manual: A Planner for Indigenous Tourism Professionals
- March 7, 2023, 10:00AM (MST): Go International Preview: Marketing the Mission of your Business
Go International
AIANTA offers the annual two-day Go International training conference, designed to introduce and prepare American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian businesses for the international travel and trade markets.
This tailored training event is especially for businesses looking to create an international marketing approach. Supporting participants to identify their tourism product(s) for pricing, packaging and selling to markets overseas.
Familiarization (FAM) Tours
Introduce products/destinations of Native American cultural experiences to vetted influencers and buyers from other markets (international, domestic, adventure/luxury travel, etc.) and in turn, they promote the destinations in their outlets like top international travel magazines or as an option to diversify their itineraries.
Media Outreach
AIANTA works with domestic and international media to facilitate story ideas and connects partners directly with media in response to requests. Both our internal strategies and partnerships with domestic and international media require facilitating story ideas.
American Indian Tourism Conference
Every year the conference attracts more than 300 attendees, who attend for the networking opportunities, the high-level keynote sessions and the informative breakout sessions led by some of the leading hospitality industry experts. The Visitor Outreach Program staff moderates sessions, engages with AIANTA members and AITC attendees (artisans, exhibitors), and hosts a session on the Visitor Outreach Program with a panel of active AIANTA members benefitting from the technical assistance provided.
Additional Visitor Outreach Resources
More Information
For more information, contact Ciarra Greene, Visitor Outreach Manager at cgreene@aianta.org.
Bureau of Indian Affairs
Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail
Native American Agriculture Fund
Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail
Bureau of Land Management
National Endowment of the Arts
National Park Service
United States Forest Service
