Regional Tourism Planning
Despite high levels of visitation in many states, numerous U.S. tribes have historically seen little direct benefit from tourism, particularly in places like North Dakota and South Dakota. This gap underscores the importance of building strong regional alliances that amplify Indigenous voices and ensure tribes have greater influence over how tourism is developed and managed.
We work in partnership with Indigenous communities, as well as non-Native businesses, policymakers, and government leaders, to build, strengthen, and sustain these alliances.
Regional alliances empower tribes by:
- Enhancing opportunities for collaboration
- Strengthening their collective voice in tourism planning
- Creating new, culturally respectful tourism opportunities
Increasing shared financial benefits
- Building local capacity and leadership
Interested in supporting or developing a regional tourism alliance? Contact us to learn how we can help facilitate meaningful partnerships and long-term success.
RECENT PROJECT EXAMPLES
South Dakota Native Tourism Alliance (SDNTA)
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Since the plan’s adoption in 2020, GW has continued to provide the SDNTA with program management support, facilitating discussions and training opportunities to meet the network's operational needs. This includes working alongside members to develop new tourism products in partnership with Destination America and Trafalgar, facilitating Quarterly Meetings to bring members together to network and exchange ideas, providing training and development to the Board of Directors, facilitating the training of 20 new Native tour guides, product development, and supporting Board members in hiring its first full-time Alliance Project Manager and obtaining federal nonprofit 501(c)3 status.
Travel South Dakota has been an integral part of the SDNTA since the beginning. It has provided extensive marketing and in-kind support to the alliance, including developing a new travel guide, creating an Oceti Sakowin passport, and designing and launching a niche market campaign.
In 2024, the South Dakota Native Tourism Alliance (SDNTA) was featured in a segment on South Dakota Public Broadcasting's "South Dakota Focus," highlighting their efforts to use tourism as a means to preserve Native American culture and promote entrepreneurship within reservations.
The Native American Tourism Development And Management Plan
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In 2019, GW brought together representatives from each of South Dakota’s nine federally recognized Tribal Nations, along with local, state, and federal partners, to assess the potential for developing and expanding Native American tourism throughout the state. Over 12 months, more than 65 local stakeholders came together for a participatory planning process to develop the Native American Tourism Development and Management Plan, South Dakota 2020–2025 (NATDMP). GW facilitated this planning process.
The purpose of the plan was to support the development of a sustainable Native American tourism industry that would inspire more people to visit, stay over, and spend more money within Tribal Nations. The plan features 43 priority initiatives that include a wide range of infrastructural projects, tourism attractions, and product development initiatives, along with community and entrepreneurship preparedness opportunities. The plan development process culminated in the establishment of an ad hoc network - the South Dakota Native Tourism Alliance (SDNTA).
North Dakota Native Tourism Alliance (NDNTA)
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The Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians had a stated vision to become a premier tourist destination by encouraging local involvement and investment, and continually improving its product to entice tourists to our community.
Working with GW’s International Institute of Tourism Studies, the community created the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians Master Tourism Plan, which became the foundation of the North Dakota Native Tourism Alliance, a regional tourism alliance.