The origin of this date goes back to July 19, 1991, when the Declaration of the First Ibero-American Summit of Heads of State and Government was signed in Guadalajara, Mexico. Since then, this multilateral forum has served as a platform for political consensus, promoting agreements and commitments that transcend ideological and geographical differences.
In the words of the organizers from the Ibero-American General Secretariat (SEGIB), this celebration is not only a commemorative act but also an affirmation of shared values: “Language, common history, and cultural ties form a solid foundation, but the true strength of the Ibero-American community lies in its capacity to cooperate, to build together, and to face global challenges united.”
On each edition of Ibero-America Day, member countries organize a variety of institutional, cultural, and educational activities. These include joint declarations, communication campaigns, exhibitions, conferences, youth forums, academic events, and meetings with civil society representatives. Many of these initiatives are carried out in collaboration with regional organizations, multilateral bodies, universities, media outlets, and technical cooperation networks.
The Tourism and Society Think Tank (TSTT), although established as a non-territorial international institution, has shown a strong commitment to the principles of Ibero-American integration. Through its projects, research, and events held in Latin America, Spain, and Portugal, the TSTT actively contributes to strengthening ties among Ibero-American countries, especially in the fields of sustainable tourism, public governance, local development, and cultural diplomacy. Its inclusive and plural approach has helped build bridges between public and private actors, promoting tourism as a tool for cooperation and development across the region.
Culture plays a central role in this commemoration. The diversity of artistic expressions, traditions, and languages among Ibero-American peoples is celebrated as a shared treasure that deserves to be protected and promoted. In this regard, the Ibero-American Cultural Space—one of SEGIB’s key areas of action—plays a crucial role in strengthening shared identity.
Likewise, Ibero-America Day serves as a platform to highlight progress made in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across the region. In recent years, Ibero-American cooperation has placed special emphasis on issues such as gender equality, youth empowerment, digital transformation, inclusive economies, and climate action. The common agenda aims to improve the well-being of Ibero-American citizens and promote a more resilient, equitable, and cohesive region.
With more than 600 million people united by common languages, shared values, and a rich history of cooperation, the Ibero-American community celebrates this July 19 with pride and conviction: together, we are stronger.
