Tourism Organization of the United Nations commemorates the inaugural event of the Regional Congress of Tourism Law Observatory for Latin America and the Caribbean, held in Punta Cana.

UN Tourism Congress Emphasizes Sustainable Tourism Development Legal Framework

A significant event brought together various stakeholders in the tourism industry, including legal professionals, government representatives, international organizations, and key players from the tourism sector, to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing sustainable tourism in the region. The event, organized by UN Tourism, Grupo Puntacana, Quiroz Advisors - QA Legal, and the Ministry of Tourism of the Dominican Republic, served as a platform for experts and authorities to delve into the legal aspects of sustainable tourism development.

The Congress underscored the importance of clear and transparent legal frameworks, inclusive governance models, and a cross-cutting approach to economic, social, and environmental sustainability. A working group on Governance and Land Use Planning was formed, where Member States developed legal recommendations on land use planning and land management as a tourism resource.

While there is no explicit documentation on a "UN Tourism Congress" delivering concrete legal framework recommendations or a working group specifically on governance and land use planning, several upcoming UN Tourism forums and conferences in 2025 engage with sustainable tourism’s governance, cooperation, and strategic planning.

For instance, the 19th UN Tourism/PATA Forum on Tourism Trends and Outlook, scheduled for September 18-20, 2025, in Guilin, China, emphasizes "Charting New Frontiers for a Resilient, Sustainable, and Smart Tourism Ecosystem." The forum includes discussions on fostering international tourism cooperation, addressing sustainability challenges, and enhancing governance through education and innovation, which indirectly connect to legal and governance planning aspects in sustainable tourism.

Moreover, UN Tourism's focus for World Tourism Day 2025 on Sustainable Transformation, with official celebrations during a World Tourism Conference in Malaysia (September 27-29, 2025), may include legal and governance frameworks for sustainable tourism, though specific working groups are not mentioned in the search.

Representatives from the business, academic, and financial sectors of the region were in attendance at the Congress, which provided specialized training to the private sector on the application of international standards for accessible tourism. A post-conference on green investments was held, where financial mechanisms to promote a more inclusive and sustainable tourism economy were explored, with the participation of the Development Bank of Latin America (CAF) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

The event was significant in promoting a more inclusive and sustainable tourism economy. Tourism Law was highlighted as a key tool to build more resilient and sustainable tourism destinations. The Vice-Minister of Tourism of the Dominican Republic, Carlos Peguero, and the Minister of Tourism of Ecuador, Mateo Estrella, were also present at the Congress.

The conclusions from the working group on Governance and Land Use Planning will serve as a basis for developing good practice guidelines and future actions by the LAC Observatory in this area. The Congress reinforced the commitment of UN Tourism and its partners to creating more sustainable and competitive destinations. Over two days, experts and authorities discussed the main challenges and opportunities facing tourism in the region from a legal perspective. Issues such as sustainability, governance, land use planning, short-term tourism rentals, accessible tourism, and access to green investments were analyzed.

Tourism Organization of the United Nations commemorates the inaugural event of the Regional Congress of Tourism Law Observatory for Latin America and the Caribbean, held in Punta Cana.