Local News

Crow Tribe hosts American Indian Tourism Conference in Billings

Posted: Sep 26, 2012 6:03 PM by Q2 News
Updated: Sep 27, 2012 2:59 PM

The 14th annual American Indian Tourism Conference is wrapping up in Billings today. Nearly 200 people traveled to the Big Sky state for this three day conference.

The Crow Tribe co-hosted the event with the American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association from New Mexico.
The goal of the association is to develop and increase tourism on reservations.

This year's conference focused on attraction building and marketing. Attendees also had the opportunity to visit the Little Bighorn National Monument and Plenty Coups State Park.

Mary Ferguson, President of the AIANTA Board said "The Crow Tribe has been a most wonderful host and have offered to our membership an opportunity that not a lot of visitors get to do by visiting the buffalo pasture."

The association also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Bureau of Indian Affairs during the conference. The MOU gives the association the ability to provide education, assistance and resources to Indian country tourism at the grass roots level.