Cancun congress focuses on sustainability, inclusion, and fairness

Cancun, Mexico. – The First Ibero-American Congress on Sustainable, Inclusive, and Fair Tourism began today in Cancun, with a meeting attended by more than 60 representatives from the public and private sectors throughout Ibero-America.

Tourism-related issues of interest to the region are being addressed through an innovative format of agile working groups, including resilient destinations and ways to reduce unintended impacts; talent development and equitable and inclusive employability; and the difficulty of local governance and the establishment of public-private partnerships for impact.

In order to promote a more resilient sector, propose a more sustainable model, and defend an increasingly humanist vision, government authorities and the top leaders of business organizations—members of the International Organization of Employers (IOE), the Ibero-American Council of Businessmen (CEIB), and the Young Businessmen’s Associations members of FIJE from the 22 Ibero-American countries—come together in this closed-door dialogue space.

Experts from all around the region will discuss the first day’s topics and more at tomorrow’s open day of the Congress, which is being organized by CEIB and FIJE in partnership with the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the Mexican government, and other relevant institutions.

Officials from the Mexican government, Francisco Jarrín, president of the National Federation of Chambers of Industries of Ecuador (FNCIE)/CEIB, Matías Fernández, president of FIJE, Antonio Garamendi, president of CEOE, Roberto Suárez, secretary general of the IOE, and Fernando Treviño, national vice president of International Affairs of the Employers’ Confederation of the Mexican Republic (COPARMEX), will all officially open the event.

Three panels addressing the significance of public-private partnerships, resilient destinations, talent development, and employability will be attended by high-ranking officials in charge of tourism-related policies, prominent Ibero-American business leaders, researchers, academics, multilateral organization representatives, and experts from all over the region.

The closing ceremony will be attended by representatives of the Mexican government, Raúl Félix-Díaz Valencia, the advisor to the Presidency of the Coordinating Business Council (CCE), and Héctor Dada, the subregional director for Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central America of the Ibero-American General Secretariat (SEGIB). The permanent secretary of CEIB, Narciso Casado, and the secretary general of FIJE, Antonio Magraner, will present the event’s conclusions.

Given the importance of this subject for the area, CEIB and FIJE are starting a new line of activity with this first Congress on Sustainable, Inclusive, and Fair Tourism, which will be pursued and sustained in subsequent editions.

The idea of tourism as a commercial venture that improves the region’s present and future by creating riches, high-quality jobs, and chances for youth employment and training.

To ensure the development, growth, and well-being of all of Ibero-America, it is imperative to articulate mechanisms and practices that support climate action, environmental protection, defense and promotion of the inclusion of all people, and fairness in the processes of production and benefit distribution.