The American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association has set these additional priorities for 2015 to ensure that Native communities contribute to and share in the benefits of the travel industry, including job growth, increased revenue, strengthened culture, community development and achievement of the National Travel and Tourism Strategy goals for 2020.

Enact the Native American Tourism and Improving Visitor Experience (NATIVE) ActA number of European and Asian markets are driving an increase of visitors to Indian Country, and with additional infrastructure and added capacity, Indian Country could significantly increase the number of visitors it can accommodate as well as spending per trip and length of stay in the U.S. The NATIVE Act directs federal agencies to work collaboratively with tribes to make existing tourism resources and authorities accessible to tribal governments, communities, and businesses, and in so doing, help Indian Country be ready to receive additional visitors and lead to increased investment in tourism infrastructure, enterprises and jobs. When agencies bring available resources and authorities to bear on assisting tribes to develop their tourism capacity, tribal tourism will in turn boost U.S. capacity to reach its international market-share goals.

Make Permanent the Current Program of Tribal Tourism Training and Technical AssistanceIn 2009, the visionary leadership of the Bureau of Indian Affairs Department of Transportation (BIA DOT) used an authorization in ISTEA (enacted 1991 highway legislation) to fund the establishment of an office and staff for AIANTA which led to the development of a cooperative agreement BIA DOT and AIANTA in 2011 for travel and tourism education, training and technical assistance. That cooperative agreement with AIANTA has served the nation by expanding economic, opportunities for tribes within the travel, tourism and recreation industries. By partnering with federal and state agencies such as the National Park Service, educational institutions like the George Washington University, private organizations like National Geographic Society and tribal organizations like the Native American Rights Fund and the National Congress of American Indians, the AIANTA/BIA Cooperative Agreement has leveraged resources and accomplished more to build tribal tourism capacity and opportunity than 566 U.S. tribes could ever achieve individually or regionally. A program in BIA DOT for tribal tourism capacity building should be made permanent by administrative or legislative means to ensure that this progress continues.

Increase Funding for Inbound International Visitor Surveys

The Survey of International Air Travelers conducted by the U.S. Department of Commerce is the only significant data available on inbound international visitors to Indian Country. The International Trade Administration (ITA) is requesting a $2 million increase in their FY16 budget in order to increase the sample size for inbound international survey research. With this increase, visitors from twelve more countries will be tracked and an additional six states, including 13 cities and 48 tribes, will have an overseas visitation estimate. Tribes need ITA survey data on international travelers for a variety of economic development purposes, including encouraging additional infrastructure development, and tribes do not have the resources to acquire this large-scale data on their own. AIANTA supports additional federal funds for international visitor research.

AIANTAPOLICY PRIORITIES

STS-007 AIANTA Leave Behind.indd 1 6/12/15 7:16 PM

TRIBAL TOURISM IS GOOD

Travelers visiting Native American sites have increased over the past five years, setting records in the last three years. The American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association (AIANTA) began international outreach in 2007 at ITB, the world’s largest travel marketplace.

• Typically spend 12 additional days in the USA

• 67% are leisure travelers, spending more than business travelers

• Visit three destinations while in USA • Are frequently returning visitors looking for new experiences

• More than half come from Asia and Europe; AIANTA marketed in China, Germany and Italy in 2014-2015

The American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association (AIANTA) is a nonprofit association of Native American tribes and tribal businesses incorporated in 2002 to advance Indian Country tourism. The association is made up of member tribes from six regions: Eastern, Plains, Midwest, Southwest, Pacific, and Alaska. AIANTA’s mission is to define, introduce, grow and sustain American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian tourism that honors traditions and values. Visit www.AIANTA.org for more information.

FOR THE USA!6% 1,800

1,350

900

450

0

5%

3%

2%

0%1996 1998 2000

China

U.K.

France

Germany

South Korea

Australia

All Others

2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014

Overseas market share of visits to Native American sitesVisitor volume for overseas travelers to Native American sites

AIANTA BeginsParticipation

at ITB

43%

7% 8%8%

9%

9%

17%

2014 INTERNATIONALVISITORS TO NATIVE

AMERICAN SITES

6% 1,800

1,350

900

450

0

5%

3%

2%

0%1996 1998 2000

China

U.K.

France

Germany

South Korea

Australia

All Others

2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014

Overseas market share of visits to Native American sitesVisitor volume for overseas travelers to Native American sites

AIANTA BeginsParticipation

at ITB

43%

7% 8%8%

9%

9%

17%

2014 INTERNATIONALVISITORS TO NATIVE

AMERICAN SITES

6% 1,800

1,350

900

450

0

5%

3%

2%

0%1996 1998 2000

China

U.K.

France

Germany

South Korea

Australia

All Others

2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014

Overseas market share of visits to Native American sitesVisitor volume for overseas travelers to Native American sites

AIANTA BeginsParticipation

at ITB

43%

7% 8%8%

9%

9%

17%

2014 INTERNATIONALVISITORS TO NATIVE

AMERICAN SITES

VISITORS TO NATIVE AMERICAN COMMUNITIES:

STS-007 AIANTA Leave Behind.indd 2 6/12/15 7:16 PM