Tinogasta Hosts the 12th International Tourism Leaders Forum with Support from the Deliberative Council and Municipal Government

As part of an international tourism promotion agenda that raises the global profile of Catamarca Province, the city of Tinogasta became the hub for tourism-related discussions and communications by hosting the 12th International Tourism Leaders Forum. The event started at 20:00 in the Auditorium of the Museum of Flavour. It received formal institutional backing from the Deliberative Council and the Municipal Executive Department through official resolutions declaring the event of public interest.

The visiting delegation consisted of roughly 20 specialist journalists and communications professionals covering tourism, culture and gastronomy. They came from Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, Panama, Honduras, the Dominican Republic, Brazil, Germany and Argentina, taking part in the press tour "FAMPRESS 2026 – TINOGASTA", organised by the World Travel Journalism Organization (WTJO).

Legislative and Executive Support

During the days leading up to the event and at the opening of the official programme, local authorities formally endorsed the international delegation and the Forum:

1. Resolution C.D. No. 54/2026 (Deliberative Council)

◦ Approved: September 15, 2026

◦ Signatories: Mauro Nicolás Argañaraz (Provisional President) and Mónica Beatriz Carrizo (Parliamentary Secretary)

◦ Scope: Declares the visit of the international press delegation and the activities of the 12th International Tourism Leaders Forum to be of Legislative, Touristic and Cultural Interest. It also officially recognises the communicators for their work promoting the region’s natural, historical, cultural and gastronomic heritage.

2. Municipal Decree M.T. No. 151/2026 (Municipal Executive Department)

◦ Issued: September 16, 2026

◦ Signatories: Ernesto Adolfo Andrada (Mayor) and Lic. Sebastián Jesús Moreno (Secretary of Coordination and Governance)

◦ Scope: Declares Fampress 2026 and the Forum sessions to be of Municipal and Touristic Interest. It highlights public-private cooperation as a strategic tool to boost the local economy and raise the department’s profile among domestic and international audiences.

Enhancement of Local Tourism Routes

Both the Resolution and the Decree highlight the custom itinerary designed for the delegation. It aims to showcase and revalue Tinogasta’s key heritage resources and attractions:

• Natural and cultural circuits: Tours of the Adobe Route (Southern and Northern sections), Andoluca Ecoparque, La Aguadita Thermal Complex, San Francisco International Pass, Saujil Dunes and the Las Higueritas trekking route.

• Gastronomy and wine experiences: Guided visits to Velarma, Perro Guardián and De la Calle Oscura wineries, Pata Pila craft brewery, plus a sensory gastronomy experience hosted by renowned chef Ramonita Quispe.

Core Discussion Themes of the International Forum

Held at the Museum of Flavour, the Forum covered the municipality’s admission to the Global Network of Emerging Destinations, alongside a series of keynote speeches:

• Strategies to strengthen tourism in emerging destinations (Miguel Ledhesma, Mexico)

• Digital reputation within the tourism sector (Yovanny Valero, Venezuela)

• Media literacy and journalism in the age of Artificial Intelligence (Aldo Romero, Honduras)

• The power of the senses in tourism in the digital era (Nino Espinosa, Colombia)

The staging of this event and the attendance of international journalists help promote Tinogasta’s tourism and cultural offerings across multiple media platforms in Latin America and Europe.