ISTO Americas participated in the Colombia Travel Expo 2019, the most important fair in the region, which took place from 21 to 24 November in Medellín.
ISTO Americas was invited by the Asociación Hotelera y Turística de Colombia, capitulo Antioquia - Cotelco Antioquia (Hotel and Tourism Association of Colombia, Antioquia region).
During this fair, the Americas section of ISTO made several presentations as part of the "Encuentro nacional académico de turismo competitivo, sostenible e innovacion" (National Academic Meeting on Competitive, Sustainable Tourism and Innovation), an academic event prepared especially for the Colombian tourism industry and which had as its main topic social tourism and its opportunities for this country.
The President of ISTO Americas, Sergio Rodriguez Abitia, spoke at the inaugural conference with the masterful presentation "Social and Inclusive Tourism" as well as at the closing workshop on "Competitive, Sustainable and Inclusive Colombia".
The inauguration of the Colombia Travel Expo 2019 was also used to ensure that ISTO Americas recognized the contribution of the Caja de Compensación Comfenalco Antioquia (ISTO member since 2016) for its contribution to the development of social tourism in this Colombian department. A certificate was presented to the authorities present on this occasion by President Sergio Rodriguez Abitia.
Editor's note: to learn more about Comfenalco Antioquia's social tourism programme, you can consult the ISTO report "Tourism in Actions: 20 examples of social policies and programmes around the world".
Taking advantage of this visit to Medellin, ISTO Americas held various meetings with the Medellin Office, Comfenalco Antioquia and Cotelco Antioquia to explore the interest and possibility of holding the next Regional Meeting of the Americas in 2021 in this Colombian city.
