GW Expert Available: Developing Sustainable and Inclusive Tourism Among Indigenous Communities in the United States

Newswise — Native tourism, tourism that directly engages Indigenous tribes, is booming in North America and there’s been significant growth and interest in places like South Dakota. On Indigenous Peoples' Day, one professor at the George Washington University is highlighting the continued efforts of developing sustainable and equitable tourism among tribal nations and industry, state and federal partners in the United States.

Seleni Matus is the director of the International Institute of Tourism Studies and an adjunct professor of tourism at GW. Matus has spent more than 15 years designing and directing large, multi-stakeholder initiatives in Latin America and the Caribbean that have enhanced the quality of tourism offerings and helped to ensure the long-term health of natural ecosystems.

In leading the International Institute of Tourism Studies, Matus and her team are helping develop initiatives that support inclusive economic growth of Indigenous communities, build bridges where there haven’t been in the past, and foster a deeper understanding of Native American culture in places like North and South Dakota. Their work has expanded into Maine, where stakeholders are looking for the Institute to facilitate more inclusive Indigenous tourism planning on the East Coast. Their works spans not only the U.S., but internationally as well.