Guanajuato, a benchmark in sustainable tourism observatories

Derived from the fact that Guanajuato has positioned itself as a leader in sustainable public policies and in the measurement of tourism indicators, the entity agreed within the framework of the United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP 27) to support Mallorca and the Islands Canarias to specify the development of its tourist observatories with a sustainable approach.

In an interview with El Economista, the head of the Guanajuato Tourism Secretariat, Juan José Álvarez Brunel, explained that because they are integrating new measurement indicators into their Tourism Observatory and because the entity is the leading measurement benchmark on the continent, It was possible to carry out this new step of advice and exchange of good practices for the European demarcations.

The state secretary explained that a work team from the Guanajuato state prior to COP 27 traveled to Mallorca to identify the practices of the measurement mechanisms of the European island, an entity that has a Sustainable Tourism Observatory; however, he pointed out, he seeks to improve his indicators to know the environmental impact generated by tourist activities.

From the visit, the next works to be carried out in the remainder of this 2022 and for 2023 for Mallorca were ratified; furthermore, from this alliance, the Canary Islands requested the support of Guanajuato.

We were with Mallorca a few weeks ago, they are requesting our intervention to strengthen their observatory. I also had the opportunity to share one of the COP 27 panels with the Secretary of Tourism of the Canary Islands and they also asked us to have a link”, said Álvarez Brunel.

He deepened that this coordination work stands out in a context where the Guanajuato entity supports several states of the country in achieving their tourist observatories.

For example, within the Central West Pact for Tourism, Guanajuato agreed to collaborate with Querétaro and Zacatecas to promote their measurement mechanisms.

“We already had experience in advising other countries, but this means a new step, especially since they are one of the most important destinations in Europe in terms of tourism. We do not see in Guanajuato another better way to help the tourism sector with the different tools we have, we will always have that provision for those who are interested, ”he reiterated.

Indicators

The state secretary stressed that helping in the development of these tools makes the learning curve for the supported destination take less time, but above all, the most relevant indicators and measurements are identified.

It should be noted that Guanajuato created its tourist observatory before the pandemic, in 2011; In 2014, it joined the UNWTO World Tourism Organization and in 2015 it joined the UNWTO Network of Sustainable Tourism Observatories. In addition, it carries out and participates in an annual congress of tourist observatories.

As a result of the green agenda and the event held in Egypt, Álvarez Brunel reported that the First Sustainability Forum for the country’s states will be held by 2023.

“Above all, it seeks to unite the tourism sector chain with these world leaders who have already had the development of measurement platforms,” ​​he reiterated.

estados@eleconomista.mx