UPE held Its 1st International Congress on Tourism: a space for debate and the future of the sector

On Thursday, September 25 and Friday, September 26, 2025, the Universidad Provincial de Ezeiza (UPE) hosted the 1st International Congress on Tourism: “Development Models and Tourism”, a free-of-charge event that brought together over 400 participants, including students, professors, researchers, graduates, businesspeople, government officials, and the general public.

Endorsed by CONDET (Council of Deans and Directors of Academic Units Related to Tourism Education), the congress focused on five main topics of discussion: territory, technological innovation, academic internationalization, public policy and governance, and inclusion in tourist destinations.

A high-level opening

The event began with an institutional ceremony held in the Central Hall of UPE. The ceremony was led by academic and provincial authorities, as well as key figures in the tourism sector, including María Soledad Martínez, Deputy Secretary of Tourism of Buenos Aires Province; Roberto Salvarezza, President of the CIC; Jorge Calzoni, Rector of UNDAV and President of UDUALC; and Andrés Deyá, President of FAEVYT.

On that occasion, a commitment letter was signed between UPE and the Ministry of Production, Science, and Technological Innovation of the Province of Buenos Aires, aimed at supporting the Continuous Improvement Program of Buenos Aires Tourism.

Simultaneously, the 1st National Symposium on Language Teaching in Tourism Programs was held virtually, bringing together university language educators from across the country.

Featured conferences and panels

The academic agenda opened with the international conference “Regenerative Tourism: a transformative experience from Mexico”, led by Armando Vázquez Morales, Director of Tourism Promotion in Tlaxcala and member of the Global Initiative for Regenerative Tourism.

Throughout the first day, panels were held on academic tourism and internationalization, public policies and governance, and the role of tourism in peacebuilding, with testimonies from Colombia's post-conflict experience.

One of the most well-attended moments was a videoconference by Italian expert Sonia Ferrari, from the Università della Calabria, who presented on “Roots Tourism.” Additionally, presentations and interactive posters were showcased on topics such as sustainability, cultural tourism, and innovation.

A second day with a global perspective

On Friday, September 26, the day opened with a keynote by Miguel Ledhesma, President of the World Travel Journalism Organization, who presented the conference “Travel Journalism: what is not communicated, does not exist.”

The morning continued with the International Panel on “Diplomacy and Tourism,” featuring the Ambassador of Georgia to Argentina, Gvaram Khandamishvili. The agenda also included discussions on gender and diversity in tourism, the MICE segment (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions), and the management of smart and sustainable destinations, with experts from Spain and Italy.

The official closing ceremony was led by Leonardo Altieri, Coordinator of Tourism Programs at UPE, accompanied by a virtual message from Francesca Guerriero, Director of DIMEG at the Università della Calabria.

A positive outcome

With over 400 attendees across two days of activities, the 1st International Congress on Tourism at UPE established itself as a diverse platform for reflection and learning, fostering connections between academia, public administration, and the private sector.

The challenge now lies in continuing this type of initiative, so that the ideas and discussions shared can translate into concrete actions for the future of tourism in Argentina and the region.