Bill proposes growing Indian Country tourism

Staff and Wire report

Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., joined a bipartisan group of senators Tuesday in sponsoring a bill to help Native Americans attract tourists to their communities.

"In Montana and all throughout the nation, Indian Country offers travelers a rich cultural experience," Tester said in a press release.  "This bill will ensure tribes have a seat at the table as the Administration drafts a strategy for increasing tourism, creating jobs, spurring economic growth, and supporting tribal sovereignty."

Sens. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, co-chair of the Senate Tourism Caucus, and John Thune, R-S.D., chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, introduced the Native American Tourism and Improving Visitor Experience - NATIVE - Act, with the intent to enhance and integrate native tourism, empower native communities, and expand unique cultural tourism opportunities in the United States. 

Tester was joined by Lisa Murkowski, R-Ala., Tom Udall, D-N.M., Dean Heller, R-Nev., Al Franken, D-Minn., and Mike Rounds, R-S.D., as original cosponsors of the NATIVE Act.

"When we grow our tourism industry in Hawai'i and across the country, we create jobs and support thousands of small businesses," Schatz said in the release.  "Every state, every community is different.  That is why our legislation aims to empower native communities and give them the resources to share their history and culture with travelers from around the globe."

"This legislation empowers our Native American tribes and tribal organizations to have inclusion in federal tourism initiatives," Thune added.  "The unique and rich culture of the Lakota, Dakota, and Nakota nations are embedded within the state of South Dakota.  It is my hope that this common-sense bill will help integrate tribally driven tourism plans nationally, and ultimately help grow local economies."

The NATIVE Act would require federal agencies with tourism assets and responsibilities to include tribes and native organizations in national tourism efforts and strategic planning.  It would also provide Native Hawaiian, Alaska Native and American Indian communities with access to resources and technical assistance needed to build sustainable recreational and cultural travel and tourism infrastructure and capacity; spur economic development, and create good jobs, the release said.

The NATIVE Act is supported by a broad coalition of stakeholders including the U.S. Travel Association, American Indian and Alaska Native Tourism Association, Southeast Tourism Society, Western States Tourism Policy Council, National Congress of American Indians, Alaska Federation of Natives, Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, Native American Contractors Association, and the Native Enterprise Initiative of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

"Tourism can help many tribes and Native communities become more self-sufficient, create jobs and businesses, and protect tribal heritage assets while sharing tribal culture with domestic and global audiences," American Indian and Alaska Native Tourism Association President Sherry L Rupert said in a statement included in a press release from the association. "The potential of Native tourism remains a largely untapped national tourism resource and holds great potential for increasing domestic travelers as well as international visitors."

The U.S. Travel Association also praised the legislation.

"The NATIVE Act will help highlight the diverse options that are available to travelers to and within the U.S., which can only help spur travel activity and the powerful economic benefits that come with it," association President and CEO Roger Dow said in the release. "People already think of traveling the U.S. for shopping, theme parks and natural wonders like our coastlines and mountain ranges, but this will boost understanding of our incredibly rich native history as well. This will be of particular benefit to international travelers, who spend $4,300 per trip to the U.S. on average and are a big part of why travel is one of the most effective job creators of any sector of the economy."