With the presence of the minister, Angie Duarte de Melillo; the Minister of the Environment and Sustainable Development, Rolando Barreto, and some 350 participants, the event highlighted the call of the UNWTO on the need to invest in projects that give us the possibility of offering opportunities to people, creating resilience, accelerating climate measures , greater sustainability for the planet; and provide inclusive prosperity around the pillars of innovation and entrepreneurship.
The resident representative in Paraguay of the UNDP, Silvia Morimoto, participated in the event; the president of the INFONA National Forestry Institute, Cristina Goralewski Hempel; representatives of international organizations, the diplomatic corps accredited in our country, local governments, national authorities, representatives of the private tourism sector, universities and special guests.
Minister Duarte highlighted the enormous tourism potential of our country and its extensive value chain to achieve more inclusive and sustainable growth, giving possibilities to the most vulnerable members of society who have had greater difficulties in facing the socioeconomic effects of the pandemic. .
“From the National Government of President Santiago Peña, we have many reasons to celebrate this day, and we want to do so by highlighting the nature tourism proposals that our country offers, and focusing on the generation of new products that promote green investments for the benefit of people and the communities,” he pointed out.
For his part, Minister de Barros emphasized the commitment to work together on issues of national priority in a real synergy with tourism and other institutions. He urged us to actively participate in the commitment to protect our biodiversity through sustainable tourism, and strengthen national-level processes to implement environmental policies.
During the day, 4 panels were held on topics related to the World Tourism Day motto “Green Investments”. The first was moderated by Silvia Morimoto of the UNDP and the speaker was the minister, Angie Duarte de Melillo, on the topic of tourism governance, construction of competitive and sustainable tourist destinations. She gave a snapshot of the government's axes for strengthening sustainable tourism at the national level.
Later, the Minister of MADES, Rolando Barreto, spoke of ecological tourism as a tool for protecting the environmental assets of Paraguay, and the first panel was closed by the president of INFONA, Cristina Goralewski Hempel, who emphasized the great potential that Paraguay has for do production tourism, mainly in the Chaco, and show visitors how meat is produced, how soy is produced and the dynamics of conservation.
The second panel, led by YAN Speranza, was on the topic “Investing in the planet and supporting the green transition of tourism. Manuel Codas, general manager of the Holiday Inn Express hotel, and vice president of the AIHPY, spoke about “greener hotels” and the importance of raising awareness among visitors; and Oscar Rodríguez, specialist and great expert on nature tourism, referred to “Sustainable Tourism.”
María Isabel Cabrera spoke about the Tekotopa Project of Itaipú Binacional, a place designed so that tourists have the opportunity to reconnect with our cultural heritage, and appreciate the wonders that surround us.
Janaina Maghalaes, from American University, moderated the third panel that addressed the topic “Investing in people, prioritizing education, and improving skills.” She gave way to the young people Alder Farid Cuello, Ana Pera Falcón and Bianca Clemotte, recent winners of the first prize for Innovative Ideas of the Greener Hotels contest. They talked about their project “Green Steps: harvesting energy by walking”.
Furthermore, Cinthia Rivas, member of Turismo Joven de Vallemí, presented the project “Ruta del Gua'á”, and very excitedly thanked the SENATUR for the great support for the concretization of its goals. Also, Carlos Jara, director of Ecological Solutions SA, referred to “Ecological Solutions Experiences”; and Paula Garcia, of the Mbaracayu Lodge Staff, on “Mbaracayu Experience, Yerbamate Walk”.
The Seminar “Green Tourism and Investments”, organized by SENATUR within the framework of World Tourism Day, closed with the panel on Investing in prosperity, promoting innovation and entrepreneurship”, which was moderated by Bruno Vaccotti.
Jesús Cáceres, marketing director of A Todo Pulmón referred to the “La Ruta de los Colosos” Experience already positioned nationwide; Sandy Ayala Dávalos, marketing manager of Magno SA, about the Magno Experience, electric buses; and finally, Ximena Mendoza, director of Mboja'o, spoke about “food waste.”
It is worth remembering that Paraguay, winner of the World Travel Awards (WTA), an award that recognizes it as a “Leading Nature Destination in South America,” stands out for its great biodiversity and vast natural wealth, which must be used for investments. greens, and create awareness of their care in different sectors of the population.
Source: SENATUR