Nau Mai, Haere Mai, Whakatau Mai
Welcome, Welcome, Welcome
Greetings to all of the indigenous peoples of the world. Bring us the cherished memories of those who have gone before you, bring the customs of your elders, the richness of your peoples' ways and your traditions relating to your ancestral lands, to this great Summit. We invite you to join us in Aotearoa (the land of the long white cloud) to experience our hospitality, share your stories and experiences, extend your networks and just enjoy the company of like minded people who are committed to developing an indigenous tourism sector that leads the world in protecting our places to stand.
We look forward to welcoming you to the World Indigenous Tourism Summit and hosting you at the Copthorne Bay of Islands, Aotearoa New Zealand, 15-18 April 2018.
A prestigious line up of speakers will give attendees unique insights into how they have integrated traditional knowledge into experiences for tourists, the opportunities communities have taken to grow tourism and the challenges ahead of us as guardians of our ancestral landscape.
To find out more and to view our programme outline for the World Indigenous Tourism Summit click here
Speaker Announcement - Norbu Tenzing
The World Indigenous Tourism Summit is delighted to welcome guest speaker Norbu Tenzing. Norbu Tenzing Norgay is the eldest son of Tenzing Norgay Sherpa, who along with Sir Edmund Hillary made the historic first ascent of Mt. Everest on 29th May 1953.
Norbu is an advocate for reducing risk and inequity for mountaineering workers, especially on Everest. He is also Vice President of the American Himalayan Foundation which is dedicated to helping the most vulnerable people of the Himalaya who have no one else.
To find out more about the speakers at the World Indigenous Tourism Summit, click here
The Tangata Whenua of Aotearoa Welcome You
As Tangata Whenua (people of the land) we are looking forward to welcoming our indigenous whānau to New Zealand for the Summit to share our cultural values, our stories, and wisdom passed down through the generations, for the future benefit of our children and grandchildren.
The World Indigenous Tourism Summit (WITS 2018) is proudly hosted by the World Indigenous Tourism Alliance (WINTA) and New Zealand Māori Tourism.
