The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) participated in the 9th edition of the International Tourism Innovation Forum (FIT) in Colombia, an event that brought together experts and professionals from the tourism sector to discuss the latest trends and innovations in the industry.
The event under the theme « Governance and Restoration of Territory » brought together thought leaders, government representatives, and industry professionals to discuss the future of tourism in a rapidly changing world. The agenda featured a range of presentations, panels, and discussions, with key topics including the role of technology in tourism innovation, strategies for sustainable tourism development, and the importance of inclusivity in tourism practices. Each session underscored the need for the industry to adapt to new challenges and opportunities while prioritizing environmental stewardship 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 emphasized the importance of collaboration between governments, industry stakeholders, and communities in addressing the challenges and opportunities ahead for the tourism industry.
