Ethical and Equitable Tourism Data

By Evita Robinson

This keynote covers the intersection of data and tourism. In 2020 NOMADNESS Travel Tribe and Tourism RESET had over 5200 respondents to their survey of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) Travelers. The 89-page qualitative and quantitative report methodology is also a case study on how data is more robust when academia and industry work together. The 26,000+ member NOMADNESS community was the bridge to harnessing thousands of respondents over an eight week survey period. In addition, this partnership put the ownership of the data into the hands of the community it is both profiling and serving -- not corporations -- something we rarely see in communities of color.

In September 2011, Evita Turquoise Robinson created the NOMADNESS Travel Tribe, an online social community primarily for travelers of color. NOMADNESS was the first of its kind targeting black and brown millennials, in the newly coined 'black travel movement'. The group currently surpasses 25,000 international members, with over thirty regional Ambassadors.

From the success of the online group, Evita has garnered partnerships with top brands and destinations around the world. This includes Issa Rae, who she Co- Executive Produces The NOMADNESS Projectweb series with on YouTube.

In 2018, NOMADNESS Travel Tribe hosted their first festival for black and brown travelers, and our allies. AUDACITY Fest is an immersive experience that celebrates and creates a safe space for discussions centered around traveling the world as a person of color. The physical festival has taken place in Oakland, Ca.; Memphis, Tn., and in 2020 pivoted into a quarterly, highly curated online experience.

Evita’s accolades include National Geographic’s 21 Most Visionary Women Throughout Travel History, AFAR Travel Vanguard Award recipient, The Root 100, and being noted as one of Entrepreneur Magazine’s 50 Most Daring Entrepreneurs of 2018. Evita was also invited to the White House under the Obama Administration for their meeting of world's creative change makers, for SXSL (South By South Lawn).

She now serves as a Contributing Editor of CondeNast Traveler Magazine, keynote speaker, media personality, TED Resident, consultant for Destination Marketing Organizations, and continues her love of seeing the world while writing her first book and developing her own travel television series.