(Alex Temblador will be a moderator of a panel that looks at how the travel industry can be better allies to Native and Indigenous peoples. Her session is scheduled for 2-2:45 pm ET).

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While travel can be a positive experience for many of us personally, the tourism industry has a long record of actively harming Black and brown communities. The history of travel and “discovery” is violent and filled with colonialism, forced displacement, and genocide. Today, the intersections of travel and privilege are still evident. Who has access to travel — safely, financially, physically? Who is harmed by tourism? Whose voices are represented in our industry and in media today? To travel and not look at the world through this lens is irresponsible.

How do we reconcile our history with what we see for our future? How do we show — and not just show, but do — allyship to those who have been most marginalized? How do we acknowledge, move past, and repair the harm the travel industry has caused? How can we strive to be better creators, travelers, brand ambassadors, people?

Travel has stopped. As we rebuild our world, let’s rethink it too.

We’ll explore all of this and more at WITS Online.