Costa Rica obtained the First Vice Presidency of the Inter-American Tourism Committee

Costa Rica was elected to assume the First Vice Presidency of the Inter-American Tourism Committee (CITUR). This election took place within the framework of the 26th Inter-American Congress of Ministers and High-Level Authorities of Tourism, held on April 3 and 4, 2025, at the headquarters of the Organization of American States (OAS) in Washington, DC, capital of the United States.

CITUR plays a fundamental role in promoting sustainable tourism policies and fostering cooperative action among the countries of the region.

“From this new position, we will work hand in hand with our partners to advance initiatives that strengthen tourism as a key tool for the economic, social, and environmental development of our region. Costa Rica is proud to assume this leadership role, which reflects the international recognition of our track record and our dedication to promoting sustainable tourism worldwide,” said William Rodríguez, Minister of Tourism.

Rodríguez was accompanied at the congress by Alejandra Solano, Costa Rica's permanent representative to the OAS.

Regional forum will strengthen strategic tourism cooperation

This important regional forum brought together more than 20 high-level officials and representatives from OAS Member States, along with international experts, to discuss the conference's central theme: "Harnessing the Power of Heritage Tourism for Development in the Americas." At this important conference, participants addressed the contributions of cultural heritage, community-based initiatives, and inclusive tourism as drivers of sustainable economic development and environmental protection in the region.

As part of his participation, Tourism Minister William Rodríguez gave a presentation in the plenary session entitled "Empowerment of Micro, Small, and Medium-Sized Tourism Enterprises." 

During his speech, he referred to the thirty-three tourist destinations distributed throughout the country and the programs developed to empower these tourist destinations, including: the Social Progress Index, the Crafts with Identity program, the Let's Go Touristing strategy and the Comprehensive Destination Management Program, all created to seek to generate benefits for communities and individuals to achieve their full development and potential. 

Rodríguez highlighted Costa Rica's commitment to sustainable tourism, in the broadest sense of the word, as a generator of economic opportunities, fostering inclusive development as a key pillar of the country's and region's progress, while highlighting the importance of international cooperation and the exchange of experiences in achieving social progress for communities. 

One of the congress' milestones was the adoption of the draft declaration and the Ecuador Action Plan, key documents that seek to establish common strategies to strengthen cooperation and tourism in the region.

Source: ICT.