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.
