Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Receives DMAP Designation from Destinations International

First Native American Tribe to receive travel destination marketing recognition Published June 14, 2025

DURANT, Okla. – Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma was awarded the Destination Marketing Accreditation Program (DMAP) seal by Destinations International for meeting industry standards for performance and accountability for marketing Choctaw Country, a region of southeast Oklahoma, as a travel destination.

The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma is the first Native American Tribe to receive this prestigious destination recognition.

Centered around the Choctaw Nation’s reservation boundaries, Choctaw Country is a popular tourist destination, attracting several hundred thousand visitors every year. Tourism in Choctaw Country has increased by 20 percent in recent years and hospitality is the leading industry in the region.

“Choctaw Country offers something for every traveler and attracts visitors from around the globe, and we are excited to receive this prestigious destination accreditation,” said Marcus Bobb, Senior Manager of Tourism Economic Development. “The DMAP accreditation is recognized as the industry gold standard, and we are pleased to be leading the way for destination marketing in Oklahoma.”

“We are pleased to have Choctaw Nation join our distinguished group of accredited organizations,” said Don Welsh, President and CEO of Destinations International. “The industry distinction defines quality and performance standards for destination organizations, and I look forward to welcoming them to the DMAP community.”

The accreditation program requires a destination organization to successfully comply with a set of rigorous mandatory and voluntary standards that span a variety of performance areas to gain this momentous achievement. The standards cover nearly all aspects related to the management and marketing of destination organizations including governance, finance, human resources, sales, communications, destination development and research. Choctaw Nation joins the ranks of over 200 destination organizations that have obtained DMAP accreditation.