The Diplomat
Authorities from Cancún and Quintana Roo presented yesterday in Madrid the I Ibero-American Congress of Inclusive, Fair and Sustainable Tourism, which will take place from March 19 to 22 in Cancún, promoted by the member organizations of the Council of Ibero-American Entrepreneurs (CEIB) and the Ibero-American Federation of Young Entrepreneurs (FIJE), in collaboration with the World Tourism Organization UNWTO).
The governor of Quintana Roo, Mara Lezama, participated in the presentation ceremony; the municipal president of Cancún, Ana María Peralta; the Secretary of Tourism of Quintana Roo, Bernardo Cueto; the Secretary of Tourism of Cancun, Juan Pablo Zulueta; the general director of the Tourism Promotion Council of this State, Andrés Martínez Reynoso; the UNWTO coordinator, Peter Janech; the permanent secretary of CEIB, Narciso Casado; the general secretary of FIJE, Antonio Magraner, and the director of the Department of Tourism, Culture and Sports at CEOE and secretary of the Tourism Council, Inmaculada de Benito.
Cancún has been chosen to celebrate this First Congress, which was presented on the eve of the opening of the International Tourism Fair, Fitur, in Madrid, as it is one of the most important destinations for convention tourism. Representatives from the countries of the region will participate in the event to analyze, for two days, the best ways to promote sustainable, fair and inclusive tourism, based and focused on shared prosperity and care for the environment.
Industry leaders, businessmen, academics and government representatives will be able to debate and share experiences on best practices to promote this tourism model, still unknown to many in Latin America. In addition, strategies will be explored to inclusively integrate local communities, promoting respect for their culture and preserving their natural resources.
“The I Ibero-American Congress of Sustainable, Inclusive and Fair Tourism will be a transcendental event, a pioneering meeting that represents a joint effort between various entities committed to sustainable development and equity in the tourism industry,” stressed the governor of Quintana Roo, Mara Lezama; the municipal president of Cancún, Ana María Peralta.
The Congress program, which will take place over two days, includes keynote conferences, discussion panels, specialized workshops and networking opportunities, all designed to foster an enriching dialogue and promote collaborations that contribute to the advancement of responsible tourism in our country. region.
In his welcoming words, the permanent secretary of CEIB, Narciso Casado, highlighted that, from the Ibero-American business space, they intend for the new line of work to be an important and fundamental part of their roadmap and, above all, a hallmark of the region. “It is a right and a necessity for everyone, and it is part of a space of wealth, growth, well-being and employment, where Ibero-American companies, especially those in the tourism sector, have a lot to say and contribute,” he said.
Peter Janech, on behalf of the UNWTO, said that tourism “undoubtedly brings progress and is a priority and driving sector in the global economy, which helps build bridges and connect cultures”, which is why the institution considers it essential to promote economic activities that are viable in the long term and respect environmental resources.
The governor of Quintana Roo, Mara Lezama, reported that 595 million tourists crossed the borders of Quintana Roo in 1995, and today this figure rises to almost 1.2 billion. In 2030, around 1.8 billion international tourists are expected, she said. Likewise, she assured that tourism creates 1 in 11 jobs, contributes almost 10% to GDP, and, in times of crisis, it has been the only one to create jobs.
