Santa Marta (Colombia) closes the I International Congress on Experiential Tourism

30-11-24

The city of Santa Marta has been the setting for the successful First International Congress on Experience Tourism, called Expo-Experiencias, under the slogan “Tourism for a Culture of Peace”. This event, held on November 28 and 29 at the Hilton Santa Marta Hotel, was organized by the National Federation of Merchants (FENALCO) in collaboration with the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, the National Tourism Fund (FONTUR) and UN Tourism.

The congress aimed to strengthen the capacities of Colombia's tourist destinations, with a special focus on Santa Marta, promoting the development of tourism based on experiences, international trends, quality and sustainability. The Santa Marta District Mayor's Office, the District Tourism Institute (INDETUR), the Santa Marta Chamber of Commerce for Magdalena, the Tourism Cluster, the Family Compensation Fund (CAJAMAG) and the University of Magdalena were key institutional allies for the realization of this business event.

The academic agenda of the congress included conferences, panels and interactive activities that addressed topics such as sustainable tourism, the management of quality tourism experiences, the role of communities in tourism development and the importance of tourism in the preservation of peace. Leading national and international experts participated in these sessions, sharing their knowledge and experiences with attendees.

Among the speakers was Antonio Santos del Valle, president of the Tourism and Society Think Tank, who shared his vision on current trends in experiential tourism. In addition, panels explored the transformation of tourist destinations into experience destinations, with the participation of Fernando Rico, co-founder of Disseni, and María Ximena Santos, CEO of Grupo Diforma, among others.

The event also included the intervention of representatives of UN Tourism, such as Sofia Vargas, who spoke about social innovation and community tourism as tools for experiential tourism in Latin America. In addition, success stories of tourist destinations positioned as destinations of experiences were presented, with the participation of Mateo Montoya of Xcaret Hotels Mexico and Carlos Eduardo Campo, Chief Partnership Officer of Panaca.

The social agenda of the congress allowed international experts to learn first-hand about the outstanding experiences offered by Santa Marta as a tourist destination. Hotels, restaurants and travel agencies came together to showcase the city's growth potential in the tourism sector, consolidating it as a key destination in the national tourism strategy.

Holding this congress in Santa Marta marks a milestone in Colombia's tourism industry, positioning the city as a benchmark in the development of experience tourism and highlighting its commitment to quality, sustainability and the promotion of a culture of peace through tourism.

About FENALCO:

The National Federation of Merchants (FENALCO) is a trade union entity that represents and promotes the interests of the commercial sector in Colombia, driving business development and contributing to the economic and social progress of the country.