Monday, September 9, 2024 On September 9th, 2024, the United Nations (UN) inaugurated its first thematic tourism office for Latin America and the Caribbean in Montevideo, Uruguay. This office, which will focus on legal issues in the tourism sector, represents a key milestone for the region. The newly established office, known as the Observatory, is designed as an interactive platform for public, private, and academic sectors to share best practices and discuss legislative trends in tourism.
It aims to foster collaboration and enhance the regulatory frameworks that guide tourism in Latin America and the Caribbean. The launch ceremony was attended by notable figures, including Uruguay’s President Luis Lacalle Pou, United Nations Resident Coordinator Pablo Ruiz, Minister of Tourism Eduardo Sanguinetti, and Senator and former Minister of Tourism Tabaré Viera. Other key attendees included Gustavo Santos, UN Tourism Regional Director for the Americas, and Alicia Gómez, Legal Counsel for the UN Tourism Organization.
Representatives from Brazil, Spain, Chile, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Argentina, Costa Rica, and Mexico were also present, alongside esteemed jurists and academics from across the region. The Observatory is a joint initiative between UN Tourism and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). It will implement a cutting-edge digital tool, “TurismoLex,” which will serve as a comprehensive database of tourism legislation for the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC).