Colón reflected on invisible heritage at the 7th International Forum of Tourism Leaders

The city of Colón hosted the seventh edition of the International Forum of Tourism Leaders, a gathering that brought together specialists from various countries to reflect on the relationship between tourism, heritage, and communication, with a people-centered approach and a focus on the value of intangible heritage.

The event took place at the local Center for Art and Culture, with free admission, under the theme “heritage in dialogue: strategies to communicate who we are.” Throughout the day, the speakers agreed on a common point: the importance of raising awareness about heritage that cannot be seen or touched, yet is as fundamental as material assets for the identity and development of destinations.   

 The opening was led by Miguel Ledhesma (Argentina), who addressed “the heritage that cannot be seen and about which no one speaks,” followed by a series of presentations that delved into the role of energy and vibration as heritage. Eliane de Souza (Brazil) highlighted that who tells the story of a destination is as important as the story itself, while Yubelkys Mejía Rincón (Dominican Republic) emphasized that the true cultural heritage of tourism is the people.  

The forum also addressed topics related to cultural and natural heritage as a historical legacy, the construction of inclusive narratives, storytelling applied to tourism, and the challenges of cultural translation in destination communication. Specialists from Panama, Mexico, Colombia, Germany, Ecuador, Venezuela, and Brazil shared experiences and concrete cases of managing and communicating living heritage from the territories.

The event was part of the 2026 calendar of the World Travel Journalism Organization, which promotes training events, conferences, and international forums aimed at strengthening communication practices in the tourism sector.  

Consolidated as a space for academic and professional exchange, the forum joined other international initiatives seeking to position Colón on the tourism agenda, reinforcing local actions in promotion, innovation, and heritage management as engines of development and social cohesion.

The event brought together professionals, students, cultural managers, communicators, and the general public interested in understanding the challenges and opportunities of contemporary tourism, especially regarding how to tell the stories of destinations with depth, respect, and responsibility.