A Seat at the Table Native participation in cultural tourism.

• Date: 01 June 2022
• Author: Perry, Richard
• Published date: 01 June 2022
• Author: Perry, Richard

Over the last fifty years, Alaska Native corporations (ANCs) have become a vital part of the state's economy. They represent a variety of industries, including construction, environmental services, government contracting, natural resource development, technology services, and real estate. They also play a major role in tourism.

Like many economic sectors, the COVID-19 pandemic slammed the Alaska tourism industry. The last couple of seasons interrupted an emerging new direction involving cultural tourism.

Sarah Leonard, president and CEO of the Alaska Travel Industry Association (ATIA), is keen on developing more opportunities for tourism in 2022. ATIA promotes Alaska's tourism industry as an economic opportunity, providing statewide marketing resources, education resources, and advocacy to members.

Recently, the US Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration awarded a $10.5 million grant to the State of Alaska that Governor Mike Dunleavy designated to ATIA.

The grant is meant to help tourism businesses and Alaska's communities recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. The grant made possible major updates for ATIA's webpage with new features, particularly a cultural tourism emphasis. The redesign adds an online interactive map, featuring a new trip planning tool. This provides information on Alaska Native cultures, tourism opportunities, and content in a userfriendly format.

"This website is vital to our dynamic destination marketing program and is designed to showcase the state's beautiful mountains, glaciers, wildlife, and cultures," Leonard says. "In fact, it is an integral part of the new content development that was to enhance and incorporate Native and cultural tourism imagery and information."

The map highlights Alaska Native lands and their location...