Córdoba Hosts 2nd UN Tourism International Seminar on Tourism Law to Propel Economic and Sustainable Growth

Published on November 30, 2024

On November 26 and 27, the city of Córdoba played host to the 2nd International Seminar on Tourism Law, an initiative spearheaded by UN Tourism alongside Universidad Siglo 21 and Agencia Córdoba Turismo. This conference gathered preeminent experts from both national and international arenas to discuss the pivotal role of tourism in driving economic growth, fostering inclusive development, and advancing social and environmental sustainability, with a significant emphasis on the contributions of legal frameworks.

The seminar, a brainchild of UN Tourism, the United Nations’ entity tasked with fostering responsible, sustainable, and universally accessible tourism, focused on empowering stakeholders to integrate sustainability and accessibility into the legislative and operational facets of tourism.

The opening ceremony featured keynotes from Dario Capitani, President of Agencia Córdoba Turismo; María Belén Mendé, Vice-President of Fundación Universidad Siglo 21; Dr. Eduardo Bittar, President of the Córdoba Bar Association; Daniel Passerini, Mayor of Córdoba; and Gustavo Santos, Regional Director for the Americas of UN Tourism.

Gustavo Santos highlighted the post-pandemic realization of the necessity for global tools to address tourism challenges, leading to initiatives like the International Code for the Protection of Tourists and the Tourism Law Observatory for Latin America and the Caribbean. He emphasized the global nature of these issues, the dynamic changes in human society, and the imperative for integrated responses to understand our global ecosystem.

The seminar underscored the growing acknowledgment of sustainable, inclusive, and accessible tourism within national policies, critiquing the fragmented approach of current laws. Discussions called for a holistic legal framework that considers environmental, economic, and social dimensions to ensure sustainable tourism development.

The event featured diverse participants, including representatives from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the United Nations Office of Legal Affairs, UNESCO, the ONCE Foundation, and various delegations across continents, alongside scholars, private sector leaders, and local government officials.

Over the two days, discussions covered topics like universal accessibility, sustainable tourism practices and legislation in the Americas, environmental stewardship, and the preservation of cultural and natural heritage, with success stories from countries like Uruguay, Ecuador, Colombia, Cuba, Costa Rica, and Peru shared by their respective tourism leaders. A prominent multilateral panel also examined the leading role of international organizations in shaping tourism norms and standards.

The seminar concluded with remarks from Gustavo Santos, Juan Carlos Rabbat, President and Founder of Universidad Siglo 21, and Alicia Gómez, Director of the Office of Legal Affairs and International Standards at UN Tourism.

This second iteration of the seminar has established itself as a vital forum for exchanging ideas and enhancing the recognition of Tourism Law as a distinct legal discipline, highlighting the commitment of UN Tourism, Universidad Siglo 21, and Agencia Córdoba Turismo to catalyze impactful, positive developments in the sector through public-private and academic collaborations.