The 7th International Forum of Tourism Leaders to take place on January 31 in Colón under the theme “Heritage in Dialogue”

The city of Colón is preparing to host, on January 31, the seventh edition of the International Forum of Tourism Leaders, which will be held at the city’s Art and Culture Center with free and open admission. The event will take place under the theme “Heritage in dialogue: strategies to communicate who we are,” proposing a space for debate, reflection, and collective construction around the relationship between tourism, heritage, and communication.  

The forum is part of the 2026 activity calendar of the World Travel Journalism Organization, which includes training events, conferences, and international forums aimed at strengthening communication practices within the tourism sector.  

Program

03:00 Opening

03:10 El patrimonio que no se ve y del que nadie habla.Miguel Ledhesma. Argentina.

03:30 Quién cuenta la historia del destino importa tanto como la historia en sí.Eliane de Souza. Brazil.

03:45 El verdadero patrimonio cultural del turismo no son los monumentos: es la gente.Yubelkys Mejía Rincón. Dominican Republic.

03:55 El patrimonio cultural y natural como legado histórico para el desarrollo de narrativas responsables e integradoras a partir de la comunicación turística.Hugo Rodríguez Chávez. Mexico.

04:05 El patrimonio no se explica: se cuenta.Luis Polo Roa. Panama.

04:15 Un viaje en 90 segundos.Audrey Dayana Salcedo Sánchez and Edwin Adrián Camargo Guerrero. Colombia.

04:30 Break

04:40 Entre el oasis y el pantano alimentario: ¿qué nos dan de comer los destinos turísticos?Florencia Cuneo. Argentina.

05:00 Lost in translation: lo que tu destino dice... y lo que el mundo entiende.Irina Grassmann. Germany.

05:10 Campos do Jordão: comunicación estratégica y colaborativa.Carmen Cândido. Brazil.

05:20 Del páramo a la Amazonía, de los Andes al mar: comunicar el patrimonio vivo del Ecuador desde el territorio y sus comunidades.Jacqueline Granda. Ecuador.

05:30 Pasaporte Turístico de Caxias do Sul - RS: Nuestra ciudad.Renata Aquino Carraro Pierini. Brazil.

05:40 1552: El año en que Venezuela creó el algoritmo.Yovanny Valero. Venezuela.

05:50 Centro Arte y Cultura como Patrimonio Cultural. Abel Aronátegui. Panamá.

 06:00 Closing.  

This well-established forum, recognized as a space for academic and professional exchange, joins other international meetings that seek to position Colón on the tourism agenda, reinforcing local initiatives in promotion, innovation, and heritage management as a driver of development and social cohesion.

The event invites professionals, students, cultural managers, communicators, and the general public interested in better understanding the challenges and opportunities of contemporary tourism,especially in how destinations and their stories are communicated with depth, respect, and responsibility. Admission is free and no prior registration is required, opening dialogue and learning to the entire community.