Edito by Verónica Gómez, ISTO Americas Director
28 Feb 2022

Edito by Verónica Gómez, ISTO Americas Director.

What brings us together at ISTO... the Social Tourism Meeting of the Americas - Colombia 2022!

Much more than an Encuentro!

Every journey implies a destination, a longing, a search and an Encuentro (meeting). To arrive at a place is to inhabit it with discoveries, stories and meanings capable of creating links between the territory, its residents and those who visit it. This is how participatory, inclusive tourism is built and strengthened, with benefits for all: true fair and sustainable tourism for all.

We join together to celebrate the journeys that are more than going from one place to another: those that are the opportunity to find, in multiculturalism, the beauty of our roots, of our essence, of that which makes us unique and which we love so much.

The Encuentro de las Américas de Turismo Social is an opportunity to exalt the union and diversity that characterise our territory; one that is united by its physiognomy and also by its spirit and warmth; and that although they spread and go in different directions, they share their origin and seek to achieve the same purposes.

The Encuentro de las Américas de Turismo Social thus becomes a space to redefine tourism as a collective but also intimate and personal experience; to rediscover the stories of each territory and its people, to celebrate the union and partnership of our continent and to continue promoting scenarios of which we are all a part.

Colombia opens its doors for this Encuentro. The stage will be set by the human wealth and the exchange generated, the environmental and cultural diversity, the sounds of the guabinas, the bambucos and the gaitas, which go deep into the mountains carved by the three mountain ranges and the two seas.

Bogota and Medellin are waiting for us for this face-to-face Encuentro which will take place between 25 and 30 April 2022, welcoming all ISTO members and partners, as well as all interested stakeholders in the tourism sector, mainly from the Americas, but also from the rest of the world. All participants will be able, through the many activities proposed, including a rich academic agenda with national and international speakers, technical visits in both cities, as well as a Social Tourism Trade Fair specially designed for the occasion by Comfenalco Antioquia and endorsed by ISTO, to understand the importance of social tourism in Colombia and to take the pulse of the great commitment of these three fundamental members of ISTO, Instituto Distrital de Turismo de Bogotá, Alcaldía de Medellín and Comfenalco Antioquia, for whom access to tourism for all is an integral part of their actions and programs.

We are waiting for you, you are the only one missing!