Travel journalists celebrate World Tourism Journalism Day in Maimará, Argentina
Maimará, Argentina.- The World Organization of Tourism Journalism (OMPT) selected the picturesque town of Maimará as the backdrop for its annual World Tourism Journalism Day celebration on September 5, bringing together an international delegation of travel journalists as part of an official press tour through northwest Argentina.
The visiting press corps arrived in Maimará aboard the Quebrada Solar Train (Tren Solar de la Quebrada), a sustainable rail project connecting heritage towns across the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Quebrada de Humahuaca valley. Upon arrival, the delegation was welcomed by Maimará’s Director of Tourism, Luis Zerpa, alongside Rocío Vellón, Communications Manager for the Solar Train, and local tourism officials.
A sustainable journey through the valley
The journey aboard the solar-powered train provided journalists with a firsthand look at how Jujuy province is pairing green mobility with cultural heritage. Connecting key regional stops including Volcán, Tumbaya, Purmamarca, Posta de Hornillos, Maimará, and Tilcara, the scenic rail service has rapidly established itself as a major regional attraction, having recently surpassed 90,000 passengers.
For a celebration dedicated to travel reporting, the ride carried a deeper meaning: the journalists did not simply arrive in Maimará to cover an event, but began discovering the region along the tracks, traveling through a landscape where geography and local communities are inseparable parts of the travel experience.
Global recognition for local identity
The celebration held added significance for Maimará, which was recently honored by UN Tourism as one of the world’s “Best Tourism Villages.” Selected from among 270 candidate villages across 65 countries, Maimará became the second destination in Jujuy province to receive this distinction, following Caspalá, in recognition of its commitment to cultural preservation, sustainable development, and community-led tourism.
Tucked into the colorful high-altitude landscapes of Jujuy, Maimará is best known for the Paleta del Pintor (“Painter’s Palette”), a striking multi-hued mountain formation that forms the town’s iconic backdrop. Beyond its natural wonders, the village offers visitors rich agricultural traditions, regional gastronomy, and historic landmarks like the nearby Posta de Hornillos.
For the OMPT, holding its flagship event in Maimará served to reinforce the critical role of specialized travel media in bringing global visibility to rural destinations. The gathering allowed international journalists to connect directly with local leaders, transportation pioneers, and community members, exemplifying the core ethos of travel journalism: stepping directly into a territory, listening to its people, and sharing their stories with the world.
A movement born in Iguazú
World Tourism Journalism Day was officially established on September 5 to honor the founding of the World Organization of Tourism Journalism in 2015. The date was chosen to commemorate the vision of OMPT founder Miguel Ledhesma, who launched the initiative in Iguazú, Argentina, with the goal of encouraging ethical, sustainable, and responsible coverage of travel destinations around the globe.
