New Zealand Maori Tourism (NZMT), American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association (AIANTA) and the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC) have come together to form a new organization to amplify Indigenous tourism across the globe, called Destination Original Indigenous Tourism (DO-IT), announced during the International Indigenous Tourism Conference in Ottawa.
The organization will exist to develop and market the world’s Indigenous tourism industry across the globe, ensuring that it is promoted with one unified voice, conducting international research and perception studies, holding conferences and more.
It also seeks to work with government and industry leaders, and gain recognition within UN Tourism (formerly the UNWTO) to ensure Indigenous tourism is represented on a global scale.
“Rooted in our shared vision, we will safeguard the well-being of our Indigenous communities, cherish and preserve our cultural heritages, and honor and protect our wildlife and environment,” said Pania Tyson-Nathan, Chief Executive of NZMT. “As courageous and ambitious leaders in international Indigenous tourism, our dedication extends to the care and hospitality of our visitors, ensuring their experience is respectful.”
“Through our endeavors, we will enrich cultural wealth in harmony with Mother Earth,” Tyson-Nathan continued. “We look forward to the implementation and full launch of this organization with our partners and start onboarding new Indigenous Destinations very soon—our possibilities are endless!”
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