Courier July 2016 | Page 15

Increased international interest Continuing along the cultural heritage travel path, but with a slightly different twist, Native American tour product is becoming increasingly popular. At nativeamerica.travel, you can find information on more than 40 stellar Native American experiences, which are as varied as the tribes themselves. From tours such as “American Indians and Route 66” to “Ojibwe Cultural Workshops,” and from “Thriving on the Bayou” to the “Acoma Pottery and the Four Matriarchs,” you’ll find product ideas and activities you can incorporate into existing itineraries. You can also use these tours to build new product that would be of significant interest to your clients. The American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association operates this website on behalf of its member tribes, and new product is regularly added to it. The AIANTA team is always willing to work with you one-on-one if you would like to add a Native American component to your travel product line but don’t see anything in an area of the United States that you currently sell. From the international perspective, the number of travelers visiting Native American sites has set records for each of the last three years. (For details, see a related article in the November 2015 Courier, bit.ly/1ZS9tql.) In particular, China, the U.K., France and Germany have continued to show increases in travel to Native American lands. However, the international market is one that must continually be worked, making new and exciting product available to keep interest in the United States piqued and to prevent the beenthere-done-that mentality. Each of these websites is a tremendous resource for building exciting new product. Please do your part to maintain the United States’ competitive edge in the global travel and tourism arena by adding and offering something new for 2017! About the National Travel and Tourism Office The National Travel and Tourism Office of the U.S. Department of Commerce International Trade Administration manages the Travel and Tourism Statistical System for the United States. The system provides national and local level data that tracks past performance, provides insights into the future and offers key traveler characteristics data to guide research-based marketing campaigns. The Global Markets Travel and Tourism Team promotes exports of American travel and tourism services through foreign publicity facilitation and business-tobusiness matchmaking programs. Both organizations are part of the International Trade Administration and combine efforts to promote international travel to the U.S. For more information on export promotion programs for the travel and tourism industry as well as the latest data, market research, news releases and policy information, please see export. gov/industry/travel. Julie P. Heizer is deputy director, industry relations, for the National Travel and Tourism Office, International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce. THE BEST GROUP DECISION YOU’LL EVER MAKE. (AND THE TASTIEST) Here are three deliciously unique dining experiences that your groups will love. With locations around the country, your booking experience can be hassle-free. For more information, call 877.955.2822 or email us at [email protected]. COMING SOON DISNEY