Sustainable Tourism: Build a better world
24 entrepreneurs from the regions of Guaviare, Magdalena, Quindío, Huila, Putumayo and La Guajira participated in the online seminar on Criteria for the Sustainability of Destinations and Industry in the tourism sector delivered by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) Training Programme.
On 24 and 25 February, the Swiss Import Promotion Programme -SIPPO Colombia, held the seminar on Sustainable Tourism aimed at beneficiary projects of the Colombia + Competitive Programme and guided by the consultant Natalia Naranjo Ramos, official trainer of the GSTC. In it, entrepreneurs from the regions of Guaviare, Magdalena, Quindío, Huila, Putumayo and La Guajira reinforced their knowledge on the criteria for Destination and Industry Sustainability, seeking to ensure good practices of Sustainable Tourism in the key actors of the public and private sector.
During the seminar the participants discussed how the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which were incorporated into the sustainability criteria, could serve as guidelines to guide hotels, tour operators and the industry to improve their sustainability practices.
Participants exchanged knowledge and their local experiences on the applicability of the guidelines for each criterion: sustainability, socio-economic, cultural and environmental management for the destination criterion. The focus was on maximising social and economic benefits for local communities, increasing benefits to cultural heritage, maximising benefits to the environment and minimising negative impacts on the industry.
Finally, Jorge Moller, director of the GSTC Latin America Programme and special guest of the seminar, emphasised the importance of sustainability for the tourism sector from a human perspective in order to face the challenges of a country with a living culture, an environmental wealth, with pride of belonging and many transformational experiences.