April 3, 2020
COVID-19 Resources
Dear Members and Friends:

We are all working hard to monitor COVID-19 response while looking to the future as we move from the current crisis to rebuilding and restoring the tourism industry across Native Nations. This week I wanted to share with you some COVID-19 related resource opportunities, the results to date of our recent survey and to let everyone know the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has extended the REAL ID compliance deadline to October 1, 2021.

Resource List for COVID-19 Funding support
The Paycheck Protection Program is a loan designed to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on the payroll. SBA will forgive loans if all employees are kept on the payroll for eight weeks and the money is used for payroll, rent, mortgage interest, or utilities. AVAILABLE THROUGH JUNE 30, 2020. 

U.S. Chamber of Commerce - Help for Small Business provides resources for small businesses specific to COVID-19 including toolkits, messaging and resources.

MULTI-STATE PROGRAMS

AIANTA.org also has cultural tourism resource listings here . 

Take Care,

Sherry L. Rupert, Chief Executive Officer
American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association (AIANTA)
SURVEY RESULTS - State of Indian Country/Cultural Heritage Tourism Impact of COVID-19
COVID-19 Travel Restrictions and Shelter in Place Orders are having a significant impact for Indian Country/Cultural Heritage Tourism

According to a recent survey conducted by AIANTA, “Impact of COVID-19 on Indian Country Tourism,” Indian Country enterprises are very concerned about how COVID-19 will affect them. Initial responses include representation from all six of AIANTA’s region and although at the early stages of the unfolding health and economic crisis, tribes and tribal business are seeing significant cancellations for domestic and international bookings, reduced revenue and job lay-offs.

In a 2019 State of Indian Country Tourism survey, which queried AIANTA’s database of Native- and tribally-owned hospitality businesses, 75% of respondents believed tourism would increase greatly or somewhat in the coming year.

Contrary to the 2019 survey, this survey found that some sixty percent of respondents are predicting losses of greater than 50% of their current revenue. An earlier survey had nearly half of respondents reporting anticipated growth in regional (49%), domestic (46%) and international (45%) visitation. Further, when narrowing the scope to just those respondents who indicated they expected growth in tourism, some 89% said they believed domestic tourism would increase and 69% said they believed international tourism would increase.  COVID-19 travel interruptions have significantly altered travel projections.

Select Results of Survey as of April 1, 2020
  • Of our respondents, 49% were individually-owned tribal business/tourism product and 37% were tribally-owned destination/tourism product.
  • As of April 1, 2020, 91.84% of respondents had received over 17,000 cancellations for 2020 because of COVID-19.
  • Decreases in domestic bookings for 2020 were reported by 93.75% of respondents.
  • Losses in 2020 revenue are predicted by 98% of respondents , with 60% predicting losses greater than 50% of revenue.
  • For the top ten international markets, respondents all showed decreased bookings in 2020; none reporting new or increased bookings.

As we work towards recovery, 59% of respondents indicated funding support was their first priority for response and 18% of respondents felt marketing/advertising support was their first priority.