GSTC Joins Experts at International Tourism Innovation Forum in Colombia

Sunday, October 20, 2024

The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) took part in the 9th edition of the International Tourism Innovation Forum (FIT) in Colombia, an event that gathered experts and professionals from the tourism industry to explore the latest trends and innovations shaping the sector.

With the theme “Governance and Restoration of Territory,” the forum brought together thought leaders, government officials, and industry professionals to discuss tourism’s future in an ever-evolving global landscape. The agenda included a series of presentations, panels, and discussions, addressing key topics such as the integration of technology in tourism, sustainable tourism development strategies, and the significance of inclusivity in tourism practices. Each session highlighted the urgent need for the industry to embrace change while prioritizing environmental responsibility and community engagement.

Jorge Moller, GSTC’s Program Director for Latin America, contributed with a presentation titled “Human Encounters Towards Regenerative Tourism in Colombia.” His talk highlighted the importance of fostering deeper connections between tourism, local communities, and nature and the need to follow the GSTC Criteria, the global standards for sustainable tourism and travel.

“After the seminar, the next day, we traveled to a lovely little town called Barichara, where we had a meeting with the local governance of the destination, called “Juntanza” where we were invited to share what the GSTC does and especially to provide some guidance about the importance of the GSTC Destination Criteria to be included in the road map of the Destination. We focused this conversation on the importance of water as it is becoming a big challenge and issue for the residents of Barichara, as tourism is growing very fast in this destination, and they have to re-think the use of water… After this interchange of experiences and visions, where we shared lessons learned in a project that Chile is working on in the Atacama Desert called Huella Hídrica en San Pedro de Atacama, where there are some solutions that could be applied in Barichara, Colombia, we headed to the town and had a visit and shared with the local stakeholders of Barichara, and I did realize that is one of the most beautiful towns in Colombia with lovely inhabitants and amazing history in between a unique landscape,” shared Jorge Moller, GSTC’s Program Director for Latin America.

The event underscored the crucial role of collaboration between governments, industry stakeholders, and local communities in overcoming challenges and seizing new opportunities for the tourism sector.