WTM Latin America, Latin America's B2B travel and tourism event that offers excellent business opportunities, better return on investment and access to qualified buyers and influencers of the travel and tourism industry, was held at Expo Center Norte , in São Paulo, for free.
Professionals from all fields, such as travel agencies, travel operators, accommodation, airlines, cruises, luxury products and technology, among others, met from April 15 to 17 to explore the latest trends, search for new products, expand their Network and find opportunities to boost your business.
Official statistics on participation in WTM Latin America:
Exhibiting brands:
623,797
+ 28%
Visitors:
26,454
27,153
+ 3%
Hosted Buyers:
55
75
+ 36%
Buyers club:
1.308
1.664
+ 27%
Travel Agency:
4.783
5.614
+ 17%
Metro quadrado:
6.149
7.393
+ 20%
Connect Me:
6.358
6.903
+ 9%
On its second day, WTM Latin America presented the Responsible Tourism Awards to 22 projects, associations and companies from 10 countries:
On stage and before a packed auditorium, Gustavo Pinto, specialist in responsible tourism and coordinator of the award, celebrated the 158 projects registered, an increase of almost 200% compared to the previous edition. “This shows that responsible tourism is increasingly stronger on our continent,” said the award organizer.
The fourth edition of the Award was marked by a closer dialogue with the Latin American reality, achieved with the inclusion of new categories, such as the one that rewards indigenous tourism initiatives and/or in traditional communities and the one that highlights work cases. in network. “This is the most Latin American edition of all and celebrates the diversity we have on our continent. “Everyone here is an inspiration for tourism,” commented Pablo Menendéz, sustainable tourism consultant and partner in the organization of the award.
This achievement was due to the inclusion of new categories – such as the one that rewards indigenous tourism initiatives and/or in traditional communities and the one that highlights networking cases. “The award has been gaining more strength and this year it has such a Latin perspective, so ours, and I think it is the greatest representation of this call that WTM is making so that we can all be the change towards a more sustainable and ethical future for our entire region,” says Bianca Pizzolito, head of WTM Latin America.
It maintains that responsible tourism is not just a trend, but an urgent need in a world that faces increasingly complex environmental, social and economic challenges. “It is essential to recognize and value practices and projects that promote tourism in a responsible manner, respecting the environment, local communities and culture. The finalists are the pioneers of this commitment, demonstrating the positive impact and serving as an example,” highlights Bianca.
The award ceremony was attended by Milton Zuanazzi, national secretary of Planning, Sustainability and Competitiveness in Tourism of the Ministry of Tourism, who highlighted the potential of the award to inspire other Brazilian tourism professionals.
“We must be protagonists in planning the future and move towards tourism inspired by the 21st century, based on a clean economy, inspired by the bioeconomy, inspired by what we can do, using the smallest possible amount of the planet's resources,” he stated. .
Jaqueline Gil, director of International Marketing, Business and Sustainability at Embratur, recalled that the promotion of Latin America abroad is intrinsically linked to the need to advance the offer of responsible products and services.
"Our job is to attract people from countries where the sustainability agenda is more mature, so it's a pleasure to see these projects come to fruition," he said.
“There is no longer a way to talk about tourism without incorporating it into the principles and concept of sustainability. “If we do this, we are literally putting an end to our activity,” he added.
Meet the winners of the fourth edition
The winners were selected by a qualified jury of 20 professionals, as well as experts from the six allied organizations: Colombian Association of Responsible Tourism (Acotur); Adventure Travel Trade Association; Panamanian Sustainable Tourism Foundation, Vivejar Institute; The Monkey's Hand; World Indigenous Tourism Alliance (Winta) - according to three requirements: originality, potential for replicability and the possibility of measuring the impacts achieved with the proposed solution.
The best initiatives for biodiversity conservation
Gold – Association of Community Tourism Guides Exploring the Valley (Guatemala)
Silver – Water and Earth Foundation (Panama)
Bronze – Raniforest Expeditions (Peru)
Bronze – Jericoacoara National Park, Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (Brazil)
Better initiatives to promote diversity, equity and inclusion in tourism
Oro – Mama Uma Travel (Ecuador)
Silver – Women at the Summit (Chile)
Silver – San Luis Capital – SLP Municipal Tourism Directorate (Mexico)
Bronze – Cataratas Group (Brazil)
Better initiatives to promote socio-economic impact and peacebuilding through tourism
Gold – Apata Colombia (Colombia)
Gold – Impulse Travel (Colombia)
Plata – Manakin Nature Tours (Colombia)
Bronce – Tour Favela Santa Marta (Brazil)
Best networking initiatives to promote responsible tourism in destinations
Gold – Great Atlantic Forest Reserve (Brazil)
Plata – Travolution International (Colombia)
Bronze – Camino del Mayab (Mexico)
Best initiatives for indigenous tourism and/or Traditional Communities
Oro – Budi Lafken Mapu (Chile)
Silver – Raúl Karai Correa Indigenous Higher Institute (Argentina)
Silver – Guyana Tourism Authority (Guiana)
Bronze – Araucaria Ancestral Routes (Chile)
Bronze – Freedom Route (Brazil)
The best initiatives for climate change mitigation
Oro – Say Hueque Argentina Journeys (Argentina)
Silver - Decarbonization Program of the Tauá Group of Hotels and Resorts (Brazil)
Launched in 2019 and with the first edition delivered virtually in 2021, the Responsible Tourism Award has already highlighted dozens of initiatives carried out by companies and associations of different sizes in the region.
Source: WTM Latin America.