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) region.
Additionally, the platform will feature a virtual classroom, a community of practices, and indicators for regulatory quality, aimed at improving the coherence and effectiveness of tourism laws. This innovative project is expected to be a valuable resource for governments, policymakers, and the tourism industry. By harmonizing legal frameworks and promoting regional cooperation, the Observatory will help drive sustainable tourism development and cross-border collaboration in tourism regulation.
It will also collaborate with higher education institutions to conduct studies, technical reports, and form working groups focused on Tourism Law. Slated to begin operations in early 2025, the Observatory will prioritize the enhancement of tourism regulations. It will serve as a technical forum for issuing reports and studies, enabling governments and administrations to develop legislation that meets the needs of the tourism sector while facilitating regional cooperation.
Uruguay was chosen to host the Observatory’s headquarters after receiving unanimous support from the Members of the Americas region during the Regional Commission meeting held in April 2024 in Varadero, Cuba. The proposal was officially approved at the 121st session of the UN Tourism Executive Council in Barcelona on June 11, 2024. The final ratification is set to occur during the 26th session of the UN Tourism General Assembly.
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