Rodríguez expressed his gratitude for this recognition of Costa Rica's world leadership and permanent efforts to establish sustainability as the transversal axis of its tourism model, focused on the social, environmental and economic spheres. "By hosting this event of international importance, we will nourish ourselves with knowledge and new trends to contribute to the applied expansion of the concept of sustainability in these increasingly challenging times, generating a more inclusive tourism for all people," concluded Rodríguez.

The announcement was made at the end of the event in the city of León, Guanajuato, Mexico, and was attended by entrepreneurs and experts from more than 15 countries, consolidating the event as the main meeting on social and sustainable tourism in Ibero-America. The central theme of this year's event was "Results that impact, commitments that inspire".

Costa Rica participated with two distinguished speakers: Alberto López, general manager of the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT), with the presentation "Results that have an impact: regional solutions to global challenges", and Gustavo Alvarado, director of Tourism Management, with the talk "Sustainable and social tourism in Costa Rica". Both showed Costa Rica's commitment and tangible actions in the field of sustainable tourism as a fundamental axis of its model, as well as the positive impact on communities and tourism businesses.

An International Forum for Responsible Tourism

The Sustainable & Social Tourism Summit is the first forum of its kind, which promotes the development of people and their habitat through tourism and the proposal of sustainable, inclusive and socially responsible solutions. All its previous editions have been held in Mexico, but next year it will be held for the first time in a different country, a leader in these issues. According to the organizers, the ninth edition will take place at the Costa Rica Convention Center in May 2025 and will include talks and workshops with leading exponents in the field.

This meeting is open to companies in the tourism sector in Ibero-America and other latitudes, as well as to industry suppliers. With this recognition and the official recognition of the venue, Costa Rica will continue to strengthen its leadership role as a global sustainable tourism destination. Since the beginning of 2024 and for the next four years, our country has the presidency of the Committee on Tourism and Sustainability of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism).