The Indigenous Tourism Collaborative of the Americas (ITCA) has formed as a network of nearly 100 Indigenous organizations that will work together to support sustainable tourism development across the American continents.
An official unveiling of the network will take place on Oct. 11 at a virtual event featuring leading voices in Indigenous tourism development.
Comeback trail
Before the pandemic, indigenous tourism in North America was an economic engine that helped tribes share and preserve cultures. Stakeholders say it's more important than ever that tourism picks up where it left off.
The event will encourage sign-on to the ITCA Partner Pledge, as an affirmation of commitment to actively support the launch of this movement to promote responsible Indigenous tourism across the Americas.
The inspiration for the collaborative was last year's first Indigenous Tourism Forum of the Americas, hosted by the Organization of American States and the George Washington University International Institute of Tourism Studies in partnership with the Office of Indian Economic Development at the U.S. Department of the Interior.
The newly formed ITCA will provide a platform for community leaders, policymakers and business owners to share their experiences, learn from one another, take collective action and better understand how to promote change through tourism without compromising cultural values.
The network was endorsed by Kathryn Isom-Clause, deputy assistant secretary of Indian affairs for the U.S. Department of the Interior.