Now entering its 23rd year, the annual American Indian Tourism Conference (AITC) is the only national conference dedicated to growing tourism in America’s indigenous communities.  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 American Visitor Industry
The tourism industry is critical to the American economy. In total, the industry represents nearly 3 percent of the entire national Gross Domestic Product and supports some 8 million American jobs. With the distinctive cultural, heritage, culinary and agritourism offerings available throughout America’s indigenous lands, tourism provides strong economic benefits for these communities.  Additionally, Native American, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian enterprises provide numerous contributions to local, regional, state, and federal tax bases, making the development of tourism in these areas a win-win situation.

Compelling Conversations & Best-in-Class Education
The American Indian Tourism Conference paves the way for tribal inclusion within the larger tourism infrastructure, while also guiding the compelling conversations that are unique to indigenous communities.  How to inform travelers that there is no singular Native American experience? How to remind visitors that each Native American community is a sovereign nation? How to present an indigenous cultural experience in a way that encourages appreciation and not appropriation? 

Sponsors of the American Indian Tourism Conference help AIANTA lead three critical discussions while also providing the framework tribes and indigenous communities need to develop, introduce, grow and sustain cultural tourism.

Who should attend the American Indian Tourism Conference?

AITC is perfect for tribal leaders, tribal entrepreneurs, and staff working in tourism, museums, fish and wildlife, parks and recreation, camping and RV Parks, planning and economic development, workforce development, cultural preservation, transportation, hotels and casinos, arts programs, gift shops, and youth programs. It can also provide value to tour operators, travel agents, and media interested in learning more about Indian Country tourism.  Artisans and exhibitors interested in networking with these partners should also plan to secure an exhibitor booth.  For more information, visit https://www.aianta.org/aitc.

EXHIBITOR AND ARTISAN REGISTRATIONS

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