PORTLAND, OR – Seven of Oregon’s nine federally recognized tribes have signed formal Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with Travel Oregon, the first agreements of their kind between the tribes and the state tourism commission. The agreements support efforts to promote and develop tourism on tribal lands in Oregon.
The agreements build on several years of collaboration between Travel Oregon and the tribes. Working with the Tribal Tourism Working Group, Travel Oregon published the Travel Guide to Oregon Indian Country in 2023 and an updated Experience Indigenous Oregon travel guide in 2026. The latest guide includes information about each tribe’s culture, heritage and tourism offerings.
“Our partnerships with Oregon’s nine federally recognized tribes reflect Travel Oregon’s commitment to building relationships rooted in respect, listening and shared purpose,” said Lisa Itel, Director of Industry Relations for Travel Oregon. “We are grateful for the leadership and trust of our tribal partners and for the opportunity to share Indigenous Oregon in ways that honor tribal communities and their priorities.”
Arts, culture and heritage rank among the top five visitor experiences in Travel Oregon’s latest Visitor Profile Study and as the fourth-highest motivator for visiting the state. At Kah-Nee-Ta Hot Springs Resort, nearly 70 percent of employees are Warm Springs tribal members. The resort invested more than $2 million in wages during its first year and generated more than $500,000 in revenue for the Warm Springs tribe in 2025.
According to an ECOnorthwest report, tribal casinos and resorts across Oregon employed 4,439 workers and supported another 662 jobs within their tribal governments, with those workers receiving a combined $378.9 million in wages and benefits.
“Tribal tourism is an important part of Oregon’s economy and what I like about these agreements is that they build on a relationship between the tribes and Travel Oregon that’s been developing for years,” said Travis Hill, Chief Operating Officer Umpqua Indian Development Corp. and Vice Chair of Oregon Tourism Commission. “They give us another opportunity to keep growing tribal tourism while making sure each tribe can share its story in its own way.”