Details announced for new global association for Indigenous tourism industry

Sébastien Desnoyers-Picard will continue to play a vital role in the Indigenous tourism industry.

Desnoyers-Picard, a member of Huron-Wendat Nation in Quebec, is currently serving as the vice-president of the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC).

But he will soon be leaving this position as it has been announced he will be the first president and CEO of another organization called Destination Original Indigenous Tourism (DO-IT).

The goal of the new group is to support the establishment of a sustainable international Indigenous tourism network. This network is led by associations who will work alongside each other to share authentic Indigenous experiences.

Besides ITAC, this group includes the world’s two other major Indigenous tourism associations, the American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association (AIANTA) and the New Zealand Māori Tourism.

News that the DO-IT organization was being talked about first surfaced at a tourism conference in Ottawa this past February.

But the DO-IT partnership was officially formalized in late October at the AIANTA conference held in the Louisiana city of Marksville.

Desnoyers-Picard is thrilled the world’s three leading Indigenous tourism organizations have forged a partnership.

“We’re now promoting Indigenous tourism the way it should be done,” he said. “We’ve tried to simplify things with one brand, one voice.”

Desnoyers-Picard, who is living in Quebec City, has worked in the Indigenous tourism industry for 18 years.  He said he is not leaving ITAC immediately for his new gig.

“There will be a transition period for the next couple of months,” he said.

Desnoyers-Picard also said it will take a bit more time for DO-IT to indeed become a reality.

“It’s registered in New Zealand,” he said of the organization. “We have to finalize a few things there. We’re finalizing some legal documents now.”

And there are a couple of other hurdles to clear as well.

“We all know it’s going to take a while to access funding and raise capital,” he said.

Desnoyers-Picard said the formation of the new organization is significant news.

“We know of the potential it has,” he said.

He added once it is up and running, the DOIT organization will be able to provide guidance on authentic and the best Indigenous experiences.

Keith Henry, ITAC’s CEO and president, is pleased his VP will now be heading up another tourism association.

“ITAC is incredibly proud of Sébastien Desnoyers-Picard and all he has accomplished with us,” Henry said. “His move to Destination Original Indigenous Tourism is a natural next step, enabling him to help drive Indigenous tourism growth on a global scale.

“Sébastien’s leadership and dedication to supporting the Indigenous tourism industry has left a lasting impact on ITAC.”

Meanwhile, Sherry L. Rupert, AIANTA’s CEO, is also thrilled her association is now part of DO-IT.

“Destination Original Indigenous Tourism mission aligns with AIANTA’s mission to define, introduce, grow and sustain American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian tourism that honors traditions and values, so it’s a natural fit for us to join our colleagues in establishment of this vital organization,” she said. “As the leader in Indigenous tourism in the U.S., AIANTA is thrilled to join this global community of Indigenous leaders to amplify our commitment to sharing authentic cultural heritage experiences as a united front.”

Dale Stephens, the chair of New Zealand Māori Tourism, echoed this sentiment.

“New Zealand Māori Tourism is proud to support the establishment of Destination Original Indigenous Tourism and its aspirations for Indigenous peoples, globally,” Stephen said. “We see this partnership as a significant platform that empowers Indigenous peoples to take control of their destinies, builds whanaungatanga (filial connections) which leads to kotahitanga (unity).

“By celebrating opportunities that come from our Indigeneity and authenticity, we identify a pathway towards the culturalization of commerce, rather than the commercialization of our culture. This is what draws international visitors to Aotearoa New Zealand who are looking to forge connections with people and place – and what better way than to do this through Indigenous tourism."