World Indigenous Tourism Forum in October in Switzerland

SEATTLE, Washington – The World Indigenous Tourism Alliance (WINTA) is hosting the first international forum on indigenous tourism. In close collaboration with the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA), this event, free to participants, is supported by Lucerne Tourism and will be held October 12, 2012, in Lucerne, Switzerland, as a first-ever ATTA Summit Extension Program immediately following the ninth Adventure Travel World Summit.

The agenda for this inaugural, all-day event is based on the theme of “Partnering with Indigenous Peoples.” With the help of industry experts and aboriginal leaders from around the world, the event promises to inspire, educate, and above all, explore how to co-create meaningful tourism experiences in partnership with indigenous communities. Strategic and practical sessions include:

-New Business Opportunities in Developing Indigenous Tourism
-Indigenous Values and Responsible Tourism Development
-How to Work with Indigenous Communities
-Money & Life: Understanding Indigenous Perspectives
-Creating International Community

The “Indigenous Tourism” label in the adventure travel market has become synonymous with tour products offering unique, authentic, cultural experiences for the traveler. But, indigenous tourism must be much more than marketing buzzwords or product offerings. Adventure travelers want to genuinely connect with the places they visit, to be transformed by their experiences, and to make a positive impact in their lives and in the world.

“‘Indigenous Tourism’ is about bringing these elements together. It is about sharing an intimate knowledge about one’s home and way of life; interpreting history and landscapes through song, dance, and stories. It is about communicating different worldviews, bridging the gap between cultures and generations, and developing a mutual respect for our common humanity,” said Johnny Edmonds, WINTA Secretariat Coordinator, “More than that, indigenous tourism is about reciprocity among humans and landscapes – learning to responsibly manage the impacts of tourism activities in ways that benefit local communities economically, socially, culturally, and ecologically.”

Mutually beneficial relationships are an essential ingredient of tourism sustainability, whether the relationships are between people and the environment, or between people and people. This universal indigenous value is the foundation of all good business partnerships, and is necessary for creating desirable tourism experiences for an international market. Indigenous tourism development is not without its challenges, and for this reason an ongoing dialogue is needed to work together to find practical solutions as leaders of the global tourism industry and indigenous communities.- waitoc.com