To mark the 30th anniversary of the Montreal Declaration "Towards a Humanist, Social Vision of Tourism" , ISTO will organise a commemorative event on 29-30 October 2026 in Montreal, Canada.
Organised by ISTO Americas, in partnership with UQAM, the event will bring together the international ISTO community, its members and partners to celebrate three decades of commitment to more inclusive, equitable and accessible tourism for all.
Adopted in 1996, the Montreal Declaration is a founding text of social tourism. It continues to inspire tourism stakeholders by affirming the role of tourism as a driver of social inclusion, territorial development and understanding between peoples.
This event will provide an opportunity to reflect on the legacy of the Declaration, review the evolution of social tourism over the past thirty years, and explore the challenges and opportunities that will shape its future, particularly regarding the social sustainability of tourism.
Thursday, October 29
30 Years of the Montreal Declaration: Celebrating a Legacy, Building the Future
Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM)
Opening Ceremony: 30 Years of the Montreal Declaration: A Legacy for the Tourism of Tomorrow
09:30 – 10:00
Lecture: What Has Changed in 30 Years? The Evolution of Social Tourism and Its Contribution to People, Communities, and Territories
10:00 – 10:45
Coffee Break and Networking
10:45 – 11:15
International Panel: The Montreal Declaration in Action: When a Vision Comes to Life
11:15 – 12:30
Lunch and Networking
12:30 – 13:45
Panel: A Common Vision, Multiple Realities: Cross-cutting Perspectives from ISTO Regional Offices
13:45 – 14:40
Panel: Quebec: Social Innovation in Tourism Services for All
14:40 – 15:40
Collective and Participatory Conversation: Montreal 2056: Reflections on the Future of Social Tourism
15:40 – 16:15
Closing Remarks: From Legacy to the Next Generation: A Call for Collective Action
16:15 – 16:30
Networking Dinner Celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the Montreal Declaration
19:00 – 21:00
Friday, October 30
Technical visit – Montreal Youth Hostel
10:00 – 11:15
Lunch and networking
11:45 – 13:00
Admission to the International Tourism and Travel Show (ITV) 2026
13:15
B2B Seminar: ISTO – The future of tourism is human
14:00 – 14:30
Visit and networking at the ITV 2026 trade show
14:30 – 17:30
📍 Montreal, Canada
📅 October 29 and 30, 2026
Please note that this event will be held in French and Spanish. We hope to see you there !
For more information on the program and registration, click here.