AUDIO: Arizona tribes look to bring tourism dollars back to communities

by Adnan Alam
  • Slug: Native Tourism
  • Runtime: 1:50
  • Downloadable audio here. (Note: Some web browsers may not support media download.)

HOST INTRO: 

THE PANDEMIC HAS MEANT A MASSIVE DROP IN TOURISM SPENDING IN ARIZONA. THE ARIZONA OFFICE OF TOURISM FINDS THAT TRAVEL 

SPENDING DECLINED FROM MORE THAN 25 BILLION IN 2019 TO 15 BILLION IN 2020… CULTURAL TOURISM TOOK A BIG PART OF THAT HIT … WITH MANY TRIBAL LANDMARKS AND ATTRACTIONS SHUT DOWN DURING THE PANDEMIC

CRONKITE NEWS REPORTER MCKENZIE ALLEN-CHARMLEY WAS AT THE ARIZONA INDIAN FESTIVAL THIS WEEKEND AND  EXPLAINS HOW TRIBES ARE TRYING TO BRING TOURISM DOLLARS BACK.

(***PKG***)

WITH DANCING, SINGING, FOOD, ART AND CULTURAL EXHIBITIONS, THE ARIZONA AMERICAN INDIAN ASSOCIATION RECENTLY BROUGHT TOGETHER REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE 22 TRIBES IN THE STATE TO REVITALIZE AND BRING AWARENESS TO CULTURAL TOURISM.

BOARD MEMBER DOROTHY GISHIE IS GRATEFUL FOR NATIVE COMMUNITIES TO HAVE MORE CONTROL OVER THEIR NARRATIVES.

<sot Dorothy Gishie/ AAITA Board Member Navajo/runs 0:00 hits 0:00-0:00 >

“As Native American Indigenous tribes we’re wanting to take more of a role in inviting people to our different communities because we want to tell our stories we know what our historical histories are, we know what our cultures are.”

HOWEVER, COVID-19 WAS AN IMMENSE BURDEN ON THE TOURISM INDUSTRY AND ESPECIALLY ITS CULTURAL SECTORS. 

<sot McKenzie Allen-Charmley/ Cronkite News /runs 0:00 hits 0:00-0:00 >

“Many reservations and their tourist attractions were shut down due to the pandemic and left many communities without essential revenue from tourism.”

ARIZONA’S TRAVEL ECONOMY WHICH INCLUDES NATIVE TOURISM, LOST BILLIONS IN REVENUE, DROPPING A TOTAL OF 41% FROM 2019 TO 2020. THAT’S ACCORDING TO THE ARIZONA OFFICE OF TOURISM. 

NATIVE COMMUNITIES WERE ESPECIALLY AFFECTED. HOPI VENDOR BONNIE SECAKUKU SAYS HER TRIBE FACED HARDSHIP..

<sot Bonnie Secakuku/ Vendor Hopi /runs 0:00 hits 0:00-0:00 >

“Its been really a hard struggle. That’s probably been the most impactful thing is not being able to come visit and learn who we are and the people who survive of this economically are left without a job.”

THE FESTIVAL PROVIDED A BRIDGE BETWEEN  NATIVE CULTURES AND THE PUBLIC. FESTIVAL GO-ERS LIKE KARIN SHINN SAY THEY APPRECIATE THE LEARNING EXPERIENCE.

<sot Karin Shinn/ Event Attendee /runs 0:00 hits 0:00-0:00 >

“It’s important to be informative of other cultures. Especially the Indigenous people. We definitely have to pay homage to everything that they have contributed.”

NAVAJO AND HOPI ARTIST SHAUN ROGERS SAYS THE EVENT IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE BOTH CULTURAL TOURISM AND COMMUNITY.

<sot Shaun Rogers/ Artist Navajo/Hopi /runs 0:00 hits 0:00-0:00 >

“To share our culture it feels good.

 because a lot of people can’t make it out to the Hopi reservation and see the dances and see those what we do out there. Therefore when we bring it out to you guys here in the city it helps you and then you get a more of a depth of what we are what we do what we pray for what we sing for.”

IN SCOTTSDALE, MCKENZIE ALLEN-CHARMLEY, CRONKITE NEWS

(NAT SOUND DANCING/SINGING/DRUMS FADE TO BLK)

MAC, CRONKITE NEWS. 

HOST OUTRO: 

MANY TRIBES AND THEIR TOURIST DESTINATIONS ARE OPEN FOR THE TOURISM SEASON HOWEVER, TRIBAL OFFICIALS  RECOMMENDED CALLING AHEAD TO SEE IF ANY COVID-19 PRECAUTIONS ARE  IN PLACE.