Tourism Cares: leading positive change through travel

For more than 20 years, Tourism Cares has been implementing its mission to unite the travel industry, serving as a catalyst for positive social, environmental, and economic impact for the people and places of travel. Throughout the years, the organization has increased its reach and widened the scope of its activities and, therefore, expanded its global impact.

One of its most ambitious projects is the Meaningful Travel Map, an interactive map that showcases sustainable, community-based experiences and tourism services aimed at creating a positive impact on local communities, the environment, and travelers. While serving as Vice Minister of Tourism of Colombia, I proposed hosting the second Meaningful Travel Summit in Colombia, which finally took place in the city of Medellín in 2021. This was a unique opportunity for Colombia to present some of its most meaningful travel experiences to a distinguished group of international tourism leaders and businesses, and contributed to advancing the country's tourism development strategy.

Since 2022, I've had the privilege of serving on the Board of Directors of Tourism Cares and on its Programs Committee. From there, I have contributed my grain of sand to making tourism a force for good and, in particular, a means for the conservation of nature.

Today I want to share with you Tourism Cares' 2024 report. It shows how travel and tourism can bring people together for the common good at a moment in time when the world seems to be increasingly fragmented. I hope you find it interesting and inspiring. Enjoy!

Link to the Report: https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:VA6C2:087d7217-abb1-4ffe-9029-12660c50b70c