Nominees for the 2026 Open Passport Award

During the Declaration of the World Quinceañera Day held on December 7 in Tepeapulco, Hidalgo, Mexico, the Founder President of the World Travel Journalism Organization (WTJO), Miguel Ledhesma, announced the nominees for the eleventh edition of the Open Passport Award, which will take place in Panama on January 30, 2026:

Publications

1. Social Relevance

• 1. From sun and sand to safe minds: the hidden pillar of Dominican hospitality. Anita González Sigler. Dominican Republic.

• 2.Desafinado Club, the urban oasis of City Bell where jazz, gastronomy, and mixology coexist at the same level. María Celina Lundin. Argentina.

• 3.Hernán & Eugenia – More than just trails in the water. Irina Grassmann. Germany.

• 4.Can Tourism Save Sea Turtles? Augusto Valdivia. Dominican Republic.

• 5.We have to invest in marketing. Juliana Bevilaqua. Brazil.

• 6.Tourism in Atacama: Between splendor and urgency. Paula Carmona. Chile.

• 7.Tourism and Sustainability: Diving, an emerging opportunity for the La Romana Destination. Elena Crespo. Dominican Republic.

• 8.Valle del Cauca: a mosaic of incredible ecosystems. Mariana Otero. Argentina.

2. Recognition of others

• 1. Quincha houses: dreams woven in mud that survive modernity. Mara Rivera. Panama.

• 2.Colombia: where the party moves to the rhythm of coffee. Mariana Otero. Argentina.

• 3. The Chontacuro: The Exotic Delicacy of the Chonta Palm. Jacqueline Granda. Ecuador

• 4. The Fair where mushrooms tell stories. Humberto Thomé Ortiz. Mexico.

• 5. Las Farotas de Talaigua: the dance that defends women’s honor. Rosario Ortiz. Colombia.

• 6.Feel the magic of Tucumán through Its ancestral weavings: an incredible artisanal route. María Celina Lundin. Argentina.

• 7. Tilcara: Art, devotion, and a pledge to the little mother of the hill. Lucía Sant. Argentina.

  
  

  3. Originality

• 1. 53 beaches, whales, and a captivating sea: The DNA of San Sebastián, the paulista paradise. José Humberto Segura. Argentina.

• 2. The Elf’s páramo: a jewel in Valle del Cauca. Mara Rivera. Panama.

• 3. Pedasí, a destination to reconnect with calm. María Victoria Echeverría. Panama.

• 4. Sicily by car in 5 days: a gastronomic itinerary through the best of the Italian Island. Rapha Aretakis. Brazil.

• 5. The Eater Guide to the Heartland. Eater. United States.

• 6. Wellness tourism, a refuge for the soul. Juan de Dios Valentín. Dominican Republic.

• 7. An emotion called the National and International Poncho Festival. Debora Valeria Ruiz. Argentina.

• 8. Travel, dream the Mediterranean. Juan-Carlos Arias. Spain.

4. Journalistic Investigation

• 1.Dominican artisans: creative hands that drive cultural and sustainable tourism. Massiel de Jesús Acosta. Dominican Republic.

• 2. World Cup 2026: child nutrition defeated. Florencia Cuneo. Argentina.

• 3. The city on a board: what if we turn Santo Domingo into a destination for skaters? Adrian Rafael Morales. Dominican Republic.

• 4. Heirs of a Project, Orphans of a Passport: 150 Years of Italian immigration in Brazil. Eliane de Souza. Brazil.

• 5.The Cave of the Tayos: from Sacred Sanctuary to Trendy Tourist Attraction. Jacqueline Granda. Ecuador.

• 6. Loving or Leaving Florida? A Sky-High Solution to Traffic Jams. Air Travel Took Off in Tampa Bay. Matthew Peddie, Gracyn Doctor, Amelie Horace, Lily Belcher. United States.

  
  

  Experiences

5. Outstanding Specialized Travel Media

• 1.Apuntesyviajes.com (Chile)

• 2.Ceroestrespanama.com (Panama)

• 3.Cuadernodeviaje.com.mx (Mexico)

• 4.Eldinero.com.do (Dominican Republic)

• 5.Explorandomagazine.com (Spain)

• 6.Falstaff Nordics (Denmark)

• 7.Foodandtravel.mx (Mexico)

• 8.Modoviajeok.com.ar (Argentina)

• 9.Nexotur.com (Spain)

• 10.Nuestro Oxígeno (Colombia)

• 11.Revista Viajar (Spain)

• 12.Podcast Viaje Por Aí (Brazil)

• 13.Tubuenviaje.com (Venezuela)

6. Event of the Year

• 1.Carnaval de Negros y Blancos de Pasto. Colombia.

• 2.Expo Destinos do Uruguay. Uruguay.

• 3.Festival de Inverno de Campos do Jordão. Brazil.

• 4.National and International Poncho Festival. Argentina.

• 5.Brazilian Forum of Responsible Tourism. Brazil.

• 6.First Congress “The Other Tourism: Legends and Mysteries.” Ecuador.

• 7.Cultural Route Caminhos do Frio, Paraíba. Brazil.

• 8.Rosario Tricentennial. Argentina.

7. Best Tourism Proposal

• 1.Curta Caxias. Brazil.

• 2.Ecoplore.com. Prerna Prasad. India.

• 3.Quito Festivities. Ecuador.

• 4.History of Tourism in Entre Ríos. Jorge Mario Medina. Argentina.

• 5.Naples, the fire of the Mediterranean. Kris Ubach. Spain.

• 6.Podcast Apuntes y Viajes. Chile.

• 7.Terrazul Expediciones. Argentina.

• 8.Transsandona. Colombia.

8. Emerging Destinations

• 1.Buga. Colombia.

• 2.Candelaria. Colombia.

• 3.Nariño. Colombia.

• 4.Popayán. Colombia.

• 5.Riofrío. Colombia.

• 6.Macondo Route of the Greater Colombian Caribbean.

• 7.Trujillo. Colombia.

People

9. Committed Tourism Entrepreneurs

• 1.Copa Airlines. Panama.

• 2.Freddy Molina. Ecuador.

• 3.Giordano De Peña Crespo. Dominican Republic.

• 4.Morada Dulce de Caña. Colombia.

10. Teamwork

• 1.Café Jeri, Jericoacoara, Ceará. Brazil.

• 2.Las Lajas Travel. Colombia.

• 3.Municipal Secretariat of Tourism and Economic Development of Caxias do Sul. Brazil.

• 4.La Gomera Tourism. Spain.

11. Collaborating Organization

• 1.Caxias Convention & Visitors Bureau. Brazil.

• 2.Hotel Nogal Suite. Colombia.

• 3.Ibero-American Institute of Rural Tourism (IBEROATUR). Spain.

• 4. Tourism Secretariat of Jijoca de Jericoacoara, Ceará. Brazil.

• 5. Promtur. Panama.

12. Lifetime Achievement

• 1.Alberto Piernas Medina. Spain.

• 2.Annika Müller. Germany.

• 3.Carmola Cândido. Brazil.

• 4.Chary Cambero. Mexico.

• 5.Daniel Mercado Burgos. Dominican Republic.

• 6.UAS School of Tourism. Mexico.

• 7.Fernando Duclos. Argentina.

• 8.Fidel Ovando. Mexico.

• 9.Igor Fabjan. Slovenia.

• 10.Khaled Hallar. Argentina.

• 11.Lupita Gámez. Mexico.

• 12.Michelle Delgado. Mexico.

• 13.Orfa Marina Ascuntar. Colombia.

• 14.Pacific Asia Travel Association. Thailand.

• 15.Raisa Rivas Español. Puerto Rico.

• 16.Sarah Stodola. United States.

• 17. Yoel Diaz. Venezuela.

13. Photography with purpose

• 1.Cabarete: Surfers’ Paradise in the Caribbean. José Mercado Hernández. Dominican Republic.

• 2.Between Heaven and Earth. Cristian Carvajal. Chile.

• 3.Day of the Dead Triptych. Aleks G. Camacho. Mexico.

• 4.Valle de la Luna. Queipo Gutiérrez. Panama.

  
  

14. Video with social impact

• 1.CAIGUA: Between Arepas, Heritage, and Unique People. Genaro Rivas. Venezuela.

• 2.Caxias 2025. Viva Misiones. Argentina.

• 3.In La Esperanza, Intibucá: Enjoying the Choro and Wine Festival. Manuel Enrique Menjívar Flores. Honduras.

• 4.Independence of Cartagena de Indias. Hernán Ortiz. Colombia.

15. Original social media content

• Japan is at Its limit. Joseba. Spain.

• Stay in Cúcuta… Audrey Dayana Salcedo Sánchez and Edwin Camargo Guerrero. Colombia.

• I Invite You to discover San Cristóbal – Táchira, Venezuela, Also Known as the Cordial City. Yovanny Valero. Venezuela.

• Train of the Republic, from Salto to Itu. Ziomar Santos. Brazil.

• Silence Tourism. Jengibre. Chile.

16.Open Passport Grand Prize (Any nominated participant may win.)

17.Honor Gallery of Tourism Leaders

18.Honor Gallery of Travel Journalism

Encouraging active participation

The World Travel Journalism Organization (WTJO), promoter of the award, established from its second edition a criterion that particularly values the commitment of nominees to the event. In this regard, those who attend the ceremony in person receive extra points added to the score awarded by the jury. This bonus not only recognizes the effort of those who travel and actively participate in the gathering, but also seeks to strengthen the spirit of community and collaboration among colleagues from different parts of the world.

Winners revealed live

Unlike other awards, the names of the winners in each category are announced directly on stage, in real time, making the ceremony a moment of emotion, anticipation, and collective celebration. This dynamic enriches the experience and further highlights the importance of being present.

In addition to its symbolic value, attendance allows participants to exchange experiences, build networks, showcase their work, and take part in a day that transcends protocol to become an act of mutual recognition and professional growth.

Participation

Nominees must purchase their airline ticket to arrive in Panama City on January 29 and depart on February 5 in the afternoon. As every year, lodging, meals, and excursions are included. They must send their ticket no later than December 12 via WhatsApp at +5491128151837 (Check availability before purchasing your ticket).